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Once you see it, you’ll wonder how you missed it. I mean, it’s red and on a part of their body we look at every day. But this one quite visible sign says more about their health than you might expect…
To keep track of how healthy our furry family are, you often need a blood test or at the very least, a check-up with your vet. But here’s something you can check at home…
Introducing the Thin Red Line.
If you look inside your dog or cat’s mouth next time they’re smiling, panting or maybe even sleeping, check out the area where the gums meet the teeth. If it’s just a nice (salmon) pink meeting the white teeth then they’re in good shape. But if you see a thin red line (TRL) along the gums just above the teeth then you’re seeing something really interesting and important.
The TRL in dogs:
And in cats:
So what does the Thin Red Line mean?
This part of the gums is red and inflamed for a reason. This red line is actually a battle line between the good - their immune system - and the evil - the millions of oral bacteria sitting on their teeth trying to invade into their body. It’s red because of all the bacteria seeking cells that are being sent there to fight. And it’s a battle that’s an important one to win.
After all, those bad bacteria found in plaque can find their way into the heart, kidneys and liver if they do break through that thin red line with heart disease, kidney and liver infections the result.
So what can you do?
The Thin Red Line is just a helpful sign that you need to act now.
So you can either have their teeth cleaned at your vet or you can start the cleaning process immediately (and help their own body to fight back) by using a dental treat like my Drool Teeth + Breath treats that contain ingredients proven to reduce tartar build-up and neutralise those dangerous mouth bacteria.
It might only be a thin red line but it’s one worth taking notice of…
