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Dental Health for Pets
07/23/2008 - By Lansdowne Veterinary Clinic, Kimberly Jaquith, DVM
Lansdowne Veterinary Clinic Logo
Did you know that periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease of dogs and cats? Did you know that dental care has saved the lives of more pets than any other advance in veterinary medicine in the past 15 years?
Dogs and cats who receive dental care live 10-20% longer than those who don’t.
We know that we are supposed to brush our teeth after every meal, to floss every day and to have our teeth professionally cleaned every 6 months. Unfortunately, we rarely afford the same good health practices to our furry friends. When was the last time you brushed your dog’s or cat’s teeth? They deserve the same regular dental care you give yourself. Your pet starts to develop tartar on his teeth after a few years of age. If not removed, the tartar continues to build up until it starts to erode the gums and causes receding gumlines. This leads to infection and bad breath, as well as pain for your pet. Severe gum infections and abcessed teeth will occur if the mouth is not cleaned up. Chronic infections of the mouth can also lead to infection elsewhere in the body. Bacteria from the mouth enters the bloodstream and then is deposited in the liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs. How can you tell if your pet has gum disease? Look inside your pet’s mouth for these warning signs: bad breath, red and swollen gums, a yellow-brown crust of tartar along the gumline and any pain or bleeding when you touch the gums or mouth. Seek veterinary care if you see any of these signs.
How can you prevent dental health problems? Brushing your dog or cat’s teeth at home is the best preventative tool available. Use a specially formulated pet toothpaste with either a finger brush or a pediatric toothbrush. Human toothpaste is not recommended since it may cause upset stomachs in pets. Concentrate your brushing to the outer surfaces of the teeth; the tongue will have enough scrubbing action on the inside surfaces of the teeth. Also brush at the gumline, the spot where tartar accumulates the most. Do this daily and you will increase your pet’s overall dental health and the time between professional cleanings. Another way to prevent dental health problems is to use dry dog or cat food. There are specially designed tartar control diets which help reduce tartar build-up by 35% if fed exclusively. Rawhide chews treated with a special enzyme to help break down plaque are also available, as well as specially designed rubber toys. Plaque preventative sealants are also available and can be started young or after a professional teeth cleaning. If you have a dog that is especially prone to having tartar buildup and periodontal disease, we even have a new vaccine available to help. Ask your veterinarian for more details.
Your pet requires professional dental cleanings, just as you go to the dentist every 6 months or a year to have your teeth cleaned. Pets require anesthesia for ultrasonic scaling of the teeth. A complete oral exam should be performed to check for abcesses, broken teeth or any other necessary procedures. The teeth are then polished, which smoothes the surface of the tooth to discourage tartar formation. Your pet will also receive a fluoride treatment which helps strengthen the teeth. Then a plaque preventative sealant is applied to each tooth. More advanced dental procedures such as fillings, root canals, pulpotomies, restorations, even crowns are available should your pet need them.
By their third year, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have signs of periodontal disease. Along with organ damage, end stage periodontal disease causes the jawbones to become infected, teeth to fall out, the breath to be terrible, and the lips and gums to ulcerate. The worst part is that all of this is entirely preventable. You take your pet to the veterinarian for annual examinations, vaccinations, and whenever you think they are sick or in pain. If you don’t add a dental health care program to your list of important things you do for your pet, you aren’t completely preventing the pain and suffering of your pet. Remember, pets who have good dental care live 10-20% longer than those that don’t. Your furry family member will love you longer because of it!
