February is National Pet Dental Health month! Celebrate with these fun facts about your pet’s mouth
How many teeth does your pet have?
Dogs have a total of 42 adult teeth. Cats have 30.
Why is my cat’s tongue so rough?
Hairlike structures, called papillae, line the surface of your cat’s tongue. Their purpose is to aid in grooming.
How many teeth do newborn puppies and kittens have?
This is a trick question. Just like infants, puppies and kittens are born without any teeth. The first teeth erupt at about 3 weeks of age.
Why do small dogs seem to need more dental cleanings than large dogs?
The teeth of smaller dogs are often too big for their mouths resulting in crowding and misalignment.
Which animal’s bite is worse: cat or dog?
This is debatable. Depending on the size of the dog, their jaw strength can do more tissue damage immediately, but cats can also cause their fair share of damage. Cat bites tend to create deep puncture wounds that are favorable environments for infection. Their mouths also carry pathogenic bacteria; one of the more common ones being Pasteurella multocida. If left untreated, these wounds can become much more serious resulting in hospitalization.
Regardless of the species, if you have been bitten by an animal, practice basic first aid and visit a doctor’s office immediately.
