A six-month-old Golden Retriever puppy named Wesley is experiencing relief from dental discomfort with the help of braces. Harborfront Hospital for Animals located in Spring Lake, Michigan, shared photos on Facebook showing Wesley wearing his new braces. The post, which quickly garnered more than 270,000 shares, highlighted February as National Pet Dental Health Month, which emphasizes the importance of maintaining pets’ dental well-being. Wesley is owned by Molly Moore, whose father, Dr. James Moore, operates as a veterinarian at the clinic and is affectionately referred to as a “doggie dentist.”
Molly Moore shared with ABC News the struggles Wesley faced before getting his braces. She explained, “He was having trouble closing his mouth completely, he was having trouble chewing, and he was starting to lose interest in his toys because of the discomfort. This also led to weight loss as eating became a challenge for him.
The braces were placed on Wesley on Feb. 19, and they are expected to be removed afterward, according to Moore’s statement. Moore noted that Wesley’s behavior remained unchanged, except for putting away his toys to prevent any damage to the braces. “He doesn’t seem to notice the big difference and is as playful as ever,” she commented.
He even mentioned that his father, Dr. Moore, often handles “unique cases” in his veterinary practice, specializing in a variety of dental and orthodontic treatments for dogs. A spokesperson for the American Veterinary Medical Association emphasized to ABC News the critical link between dental health in dogs and their overall health.
They say, “Veterinary dentistry covers a wide range of procedures including cleaning, adjusting, filing, extracting, and repairing teeth, along with comprehensive oral health care. The effective veterinary dentistry requires an in-depth understanding of several fields including anatomy, anesthesiology, pharmacology, physiology, pathology, radiology, neurology, medicine, and surgery, all integral parts of a veterinarian’s training.”
Taking care of your dog’s teeth should be a top priority, but we have to admit, we don’t expect to see it! What do you think of Wesley’s braces?
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Featured image courtesy of MLive/YouTube
