Why do pets need dental care?
It is vital to the overall health of any animal. Many health problems start in the mouth. Plaque, tartar, periodontal disease, and infected teeth serve as a source of inflammation and infection for the rest of the body.
Dental disease leads to health issues with the heart, liver, and kidneys, and can affect the entire body through the bloodstream. In fact, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of three years old suffer from some form of dental disease, making it the most common pet health issue among our pet population. It can cause drooling, reluctance to eat, swelling, bad breath, redness of the gums, loose teeth and tooth discoloration.
Despite these disturbing facts, many pet owners are not aware of the importance of dental care to their pet’s health. There are a lot of different ways to improve your pet’s dental hygiene, including home brushing, dental chews, as well as regular inspection. But the most effective way to protect your pet from dental disease is through professional cleanings.
We perform thorough cleanings, including the area beneath the gums that you can’t see or access at home.
When should I seek dental care for my pet? What are signs that my pet is suffering from dental issues?
Some pets with periodontal disease may or may not exhibit outward signs, others may have the following:
Bad breath
Discoloured/ covered in tartar teeth
Broke/ Loose teeth
Bloody drool
Loss of appetite/weight
Yellow or brown buildup (tartar) on the teeth
Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
Pawing at the face- pain in and around the mouth
Excessive drooling
Abnormal chewing, dropping from the mouth
Dental issues and dental related diseases can easily be prevented by visiting our veterinarians regularly for dental examinations and cleanings. We take a comprehensive approach to dental care including dental health assessment, treatment, and prevention.
What causes dental disease in pets?
- Broken teeth and roots
- Periodontal disease
- Abscesses or infected teeth
- Cysts or tumors in the mouth
- Malocclusion, or misalignment of the teeth and bite
- Broken (fractured) jaw
- Palate defects (such as cleft palate)
Periodontal disease is the most common dental condition in dogs and cats – by the time your pet is 3 years old. Early detection and treatments are critical. As it doesn’t only affect just your pet’s mouth but causes other medical conditions in association with other vital organs including kidney, liver, and heart muscle changes. Accumulation of food particles and bacteria in the teeth and gum line; over time these bacteria start to form a film known as plaque, which will ultimately harden and become tartar. Tartar above the gumline can often easily be seen and removed, but plaque and tartar below the gumline is damaging and sets the stage for infection and damage to the jawbone and the tissues that connect the tooth to the jawbone. Without treatment, these hardened germs will begin to damage the gums and cause tooth decay. Periodontal disease is graded on a scale of 0 (normal) to 4 (severe).
The treatment of periodontal disease involves a thorough dental cleaning and x-rays may be needed to determine the severity of the disease.
What are the requirements for dental cleaning?
- Dental cleanings will require:
- Preoperative Lab Work
- IV Catheterization
- General Anaesthesia
- Dental X-Rays
- Teeth Cleaning and Polishing
- Dental Charting
- Extractions when indicated
How does it work?
Teeth Exams, Cleaning and Polishing
Annual dental exams and cleanings are recommended to protect your pet from many health problems and help them maintain a healthy and clean mouth.
During your pet’s comprehensive exam, the doctor will assess the teeth and gums to determine your pet’s dental needs, whether it be dental chews/treats or dental cleaning. We also examine for correct bite, jaw injury, Abscesses, Gingivitis, Fractured Teeth, Damage to enamel, Tartar and calculus build up. Dental cleanings are performed under general anaesthesia, with the latest surgical monitoring available. General anaesthesia makes sure that your pet will have no anxiety, no pain and will not move. In addition, anaesthesia allows for a better cleaning because your pet is not moving around and risking injury from the dental equipment. If radiographs (x-rays) are needed, your pet needs to be very still in order to get good images, and this is unlikely without heavy sedation or anaesthesia. Just as we do in surgery, whether we are performing a cleaning or extraction, we also will perform pre-anesthetic blood tests before we administer any anaesthesia. Heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature are carefully monitored throughout the treatment, and a skilled veterinary technician will be with your pet during the procedure and recovery. Dental radiographs are necessary to confirm the diagnosis. We perform dental radiographs with every procedure as they are necessary to investigate dental health below the gum line. This allows our doctors to be prophylactic in their approach and catch issues before they become visible.
Fluoride treatments will also help strengthen the enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity.
Tooth Extractions
We make every effort to save teeth but, in many circumstances, periodontal disease is so advanced that treatment without extraction is unsuccessful. We only extract teeth that in the doctor’s opinion are beyond saving. There are typically two options if the nerve is exposed: root canal therapy and extraction. If the nerve is not exposed the tooth can be restored without root canal therapy.
Minor Oral Surgery
Many teeth require oral surgery to safely remove each individual root. We have extensive training and experience to perform these procedures properly. Pain medications are administered in clinics and provided for in-home aftercare.
Because of this, we recommend an annual veterinary dental healthcare examination for all pets.
If your companion animal shows any of these signs, or has never had an oral evaluation, please call one of the caring professionals to schedule an appointment at Lone Tree Animal Hospital.
What can I do at home for my pet’s oral health?
Prevention of the most common oral disease in pets consists of frequent removal of the dental plaque and tartar that forms on teeth. Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth is the single most effective thing you can do to keep their teeth healthy between dental cleanings and may reduce the frequency or even eliminate the need for periodic dental cleaning by your veterinarian. Daily brushing is best, but it’s not always possible and brushing several times a week can be effective. Most dogs accept brushing, but cats can be a bit more resistant, patience and training are important.
There are many pet products marketed with claims that they improve dental health, but not all of them are effective. Talk with your veterinarian about any dental products, treats, or dental-specific diets you’re considering for your pet, or ask your veterinarian for their recommendation.
How do I know if the product I’m using to prevent tartar is working?
The Veterinary Oral Health Council only accepts dental products that are safe and proven to reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar based on strict scientific studies. A list of accepted products can be viewed at www.VOHC.org.
USEFUL LINKS
How to brush your pet’s teeth (video)