Dental Care

If you are like many dog and cat owners, you probably do not pay much attention to your pet's teeth and gums. Perhaps you should, because many of the dogs and cats are seen daily at veterinary clinics have a serious amount of dental disease going on in their mouths.

What you see. Some of the signs of dental disease include a brownish covering on the surface of the tooth, called calculus, reddened gums, receding gum line (gives the tooth the appearance of being longer), bad breath, excessive salivation, possible facial swellings, reluctance to eat hard foods, and pawing at the mouth or face.

What this can cause. Aside from the obvious discomfort a mouth full of bad teeth can cause, it has been proven that diseased teeth can cause heart, liver, and kidney problems as well. How is this possible? In serious dental conditions, there are high numbers of bacteria present in the mouth. These bacteria are constantly "showered" on the rest of the body. If this happens, the bacteria can end up anywhere--but most likely, the heart, liver, and kidneys. 

What can you do? For advanced dental disease, the best option is to have a dental cleaning done for your pet. Since most animals will not remain still enough for a thorough oral examination and dental cleaning, it is necessary to anesthetize the animal before dentistry can be done. Once under anesthesia, the mouth can be fully opened and each tooth can be assessed. Any loose teeth or any teeth surrounded by a large pocket of space in the gum will be removed. If these teeth are left, they can be a continual source of problems for your pet. The teeth remaining will be cleaned, most likely with an ultrasonic hand scalar. This instrument allows the calculus and tartar to be removed from the surface of the teeth. Once this is finished, all of the teeth will be polished. Polishing will smooth the surface of the tooth, and thus make it harder for bacteria to adhere. When this is finished, the pet's mouth will be rinsed and the animal will be allowed to recover from anesthesia. 

After dentistry is done, tartar and calculus can occur again if something is not done for prevention. There are many options for the prevention of dental disease. The first option is to brush your pet's teeth with a toothbrush and specially formulated pet toothpaste. Many animals will not tolerate this if they are not used to it. Thus, this is probably not the best option for all animals. This is, however, a good option if you have a young dog or puppy. A second option for the prevention of dental disease is the use of an oral cleansing gel or rinse solution. Gels are designed to be applied to the teeth on a daily basis. Rinse solutions are used to flush the mouth out daily. These options, if used faithfully, can be an excellent way to prevent tartar build-up. They can also be used in between regular brushings. The third option is the use of special foods or chews designed to minimize tartar accumulation. Hills makes a prescription diet called t/d. This food helps to strip the tartar and calculus off of the affected teeth. While this food works best if fed alone, it can also be mixed with regular food or fed throughout the day as a treat. Recently, the IAMS Company has reformulated its Eukanuba line to include a dental defense system that will aid in the prevention of tartar. 

Check out our online store for TONS of dental health products for your pet! 

The information provided is for educational purposes only and is not intended to take the place of your regular veterinarian. Please do not hesitate to contact your regular veterinarian if you have questions regarding your pet.