Dental Care For Your Pet

Last month was Dental Health Month, and often a good to remind owners to book dental cleanings. Many pets need frequent professional scaling to manage dental disease (aka periodontal disease), which is an infection resulting from the build-up of plaque and tartar. Plaque builds on the surface of the teeth around the gums, causing irritation. If left to accumulate it can lead to infection in the bone surrounding the teeth.

Cats and dogs develop gum disease the same way people do. Where we differ is that dental disease in our pets is not always obvious. Cats show such subtle signs of illness that owners often don't recognize they are sick. We do notice a common issue; bad breath. But, this is often only the tip of the iceberg. Irritated gums can lead to pain and loss of appetite. Worse still, bacteria in the tooth roots can get into their blood stream. Studies have shown dogs with severe periodontal disease have more damage in their kidneys, heart and liver than dogs with less periodontal disease.

See your veterinarian for a comprehensive oral health assessment of your pet and they will discuss treatment options with you. Further examination may be required with sedation or anesthesia to know the full extent of the disease. Dental disease typically moves through 4 phases:

Stage 1: mild inflammation or red gums with no periodontal pockets. A routine dental cleaning will reverse dental disease at this point.



Stage 2: periodontal pockets have developed (in other words the gums have pulled away from the teeth a bit) but the surrounding bone is still normal. Cleaning out the pockets is necessary.



Stage 3: periodontal pockets are deeper, which indicates bone loss. Tooth extraction or surgery to lift up a flap of gum, thoroughly clean the affected bone, and other treatments to promote healing will be required.



Stage 4: bone loss of 50% or more is evident. Affected teeth have to be extracted.

The key to management of dental disease is prevention. I’m not as diligent as I should be about brushing my dog and cats’ teeth. If did it every day, I may be able to delay the need for a dental cleaning a little longer. A complete home dental care program for your pets will often include brushing as well as a special pet food available at your veterinary hospital. A ‘tooth’ diet works like a toothbrush to protect against gingivitis and fight bacteria in your pet's mouth. If you are like me, and even if you aren't able to brush your pet's teeth every day, by incorporating a special pet food into your pet's daily routine, you can provide the dental care needed to keep your pet healthy. For a list of products intended to help fight plaque and tartar on pet’s teeth see:www.vohc.org

If your pet’s mouth needs attention don’t wait for a reminder, as things can only get worse in the meantime. Check out this gruesome picture of stage 4 periodontal disease available on the American Veterinary Dental College’s website: www.avdc.org