Why is dental care so important?
Caring for your dog's and cat's teeth is a very important part of maintaining their overall well being. There are three reasons why proper dental care deserves more emphasis these days:
1. Our pets are living longer
Thanks to advances that have been made in veterinary medicine and the increased public awareness of how to look after their pets properly, our dogs and cats are now living longer. Hence it is important that their teeth last a long time too.
2. Hereditary traits
Over many years our dogs and cats have been selectively bred to achieve the certain distinct characteristics that we know and love. However, as a result, some of our furry friends' mouths have become quite overcrowded and misaligned which can predispose to dental disease.
3. The hunter no longer
Our canine and feline companions, large and small, had ancestors who resembled and behaved like wolves and lions - catching and eating their food- fur, bones and all - which provided excellent cleaning actions for teeth.
While we have excellent diets available now to feed our pets we need to clean their teeth too.
What goes wrong?
As with our own teeth, plaque WILL develop even on the cleanest of teeth. If this plaque is not removed it will soon become mineralized tartar or calculus. Your pet's teeth will then become chronically inflamed and in turn the teeth and gums will begin to separate.
Once this separation has occurred the tooth is in serious trouble and without proper attention may become rotten and eventually fall out. A severely inflamed mouth proves to be a real drain on the body's immune system and can have harmful and damaging effects on the body as a whole; such as tooth root abscesses, bone, kidney and heart disease (Osteomyelitis, Pyelonephritis and Endocarditis).
What are some of the signs of dental disease?
· Bad breath
· Discoloured teeth
· Loose teeth
· Excessive drooling, sometimes blood stained
· Inflamed gums
· Dropping of food from the mouth when eating, or reluctant to eat at all, especially hard food.
· Pain when handled around the head
· Facial swelling
· Behavioural changes (e.g. lethargy, increased aggression)
What can we do?
The dental care triangle involves three individuals to keep your pet's teeth healthy:
Your Pet
Your dogs and cats need to be encouraged to utilise "chewing aids". This may be raw chicken necks for very small breeds of dogs or cats, or a larger raw meaty marrow bone for other dogs. Old dogs that are not used to these chewing aids may find them too hard to chew and at worst may end up with fractured teeth - so beware.
The Hills t/d diet is a complete and balanced dry food that has a matrix format that facilitates removal of plaque and massaging of the gums. It is most useful when fed as part of your pet's complete diet on a daily basis, and is best used to maintain healthy teeth rather than to treat teeth that are already affected by periodontal disease (tooth, socket and gum disease).
Do not feed your pet cooked bones as they may splinter and cause intestinal damage
You, the Carer
Some dogs and a few cats will let you brush their teeth. Thanks to the natural cleaning action of the tongue, most of the plaque and tartar is found on the outside surfaces of the teeth. This means that the gums need only to be gently lifted on each side to gain access to the "cheek teeth", rather than expecting your pet to stay still and say "aahh". Suitably soft brushes are available from our clinic, as well as special toothpaste. Human toothpaste is NOT suitable due to its foaming properties and fluoride levels that are not tolerated well by dogs or cats, i.e. human toothpaste is not designed to be swallowed.
Other products available include Orivet, Maxiguard and Hexarinse rinses. Oravet dental gel assists with the prevention of periodontal disease and bad breath. Dentabones and Dentabits are useful treats for dogs and cats which encourage chewing. For instructions on how to brush your pet's teeth and dental care at home see our "Dental Homecare" handout.
Your professional veterinary dental care team
We provide full dental care services for all pets, using equipment similar to your dentist such as ultrasonic scalers. Any dental problems are meticulously recorded on your pet's dental chart so that any changes can be noted at each successive visit.
During most pet's lives, their teeth require veterinary treatment beyond their regular examinations.
About veterinary dental treatment
A dental treatment involves a general anaesthetic. While under anaesthetic a full dental examination can be conducted along with dental charting, scaling of the teeth, both ultrasonically and by hand. We complete the treatment by giving the teeth a polish to reduce plaque adherence.
If necessary teeth are extracted (removed), however our objective is always to save as many teeth as we can. In some cases X-rays may also be necessary to check the health of the tooth's root.
Aftercare varies according to the individual, but always involves pain relief and home care advice, it may also include antibiotics and other medications.
We can even arrange for more advanced dental work such as endodontics, crowns, root canals and orthodontics to be carried out through the services of Dr Wayne Fitzgerald of Reservoir Veterinary Clinic.
If your pet does have veterinary dental treatment it is important to then provide good homecare to try and prevent or minimise further work being done in the future. For more information on Home Care see our Dental Homecare Handout.
A final note
Maintaining good oral hygiene is essential to your pet's overall health. By balancing the three points of the dental care triangle your pet will enjoy a healthy and happy life.
