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Pet Article
DENTAL CARE IN PETS
Imagine that you never went to the dentist. Imagine that your gums became so sore
you could not chew your food. This unpleasant scenario is suffered by millions of
household pets simply because their owners do not realize the importance of
routine dental care.
When a pet needs professional teeth cleaning will vary by age and by size of the animal.
Small breeds, such as Yorkshire terriers, toy poodles, and dachshunds, are
particularly susceptible to dental disease and may require a professional teeth
cleaning as early as 1 or 2 years of age. Other dogs may not require a teeth
cleaning until they are 7 years old.
Oral exams on your pets should be performed annually, along with routine vaccinations to
determine whether the teeth require cleaning and/or other dental work.
Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque, a soft, brown
substance composed of glycoproteins and bacteria. As plaque ages, it becomes
mineralized to form calculus, which is hard and coats the teeth like a shell.
If left untreated, gingivitis causes bone loss and causes the gums to recede
from around the teeth, making them loose and painful. These teeth may have to be
extracted to stop the infection.
A veterinarian can remove the plaque and calculus that is present on the visible
portion of each tooth, as well as perform a deep cleaning under the gum line.
This is the best way to stop the inflammation of the gums. Most pets do not
allow their mouths to be held open long enough for a thorough cleaning to be
performed; therefore the pet is usually put under general anesthesia during the
procedure. While the animal is asleep, an instrument called an ultrasonic scaler
is used to chip away the plaque and calculus, making the teeth white and shiny
again.
The scaler makes many microscopic scratches on the tooth called microfractures.
If these scratches are not removed by polishing, food can accumulate in them and
plaque and calculus can come back faster. For this reason, the teeth are then
polished so that they are smooth again.
With severe gum disease, you can usually detect a foul breath odor called halitosis.
Your pet may also have a decreased appetite and also display behavioral changes. For example,
your pet may pick up a piece of food and then drop it or may run away from the food bowl in
alarm. A pet that has eaten dry chow all its life may suddenly want only soft food.
Gum disease can cause problems beyond the mouth. It can allow bacteria to
penetrate blood vessels in the gums and travel to all parts of the body in the
bloodstream. Once inside the body, bacteria can cause complications such as
heart problems, liver disease, and kidney disease.
The best defense against dental disease is prevention. Annual check ups are a
must, and you can also improve your pet's dental health between visits to your
veterinarian. If your pet is not currently eating a prescription dental diet,
you may want to ask your veterinarian about switching to a food designed to
reduce plaque and calculus build up. These foods are specially designed to
maintain their structure when the animal bites into them. The chewing action
rubs the food particles roughly across the teeth, removing plaque and calculus
with each bite.
Routine brushing of the teeth is also recommended. If your pet has never
experienced this, then you may want to start out by simply rubbing a soft cloth
across the teeth. After your pet has become accustomed to that, you can start
using a finger brush available from your veterinarian. Special toothpastes for
animals come in flavors such as chicken and liver.
Making sure that your pet's teeth and gums are healthy also help ensure that your pet
stays healthy overall. If you have questions regarding dental care, please contact your
local veterinarian for more information.
Mark Woodcock
1 Flea Control
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