Severe periodontal
disease
Ok, so that’s really gross but can’t I just not look? Not exactly… eventually the bacteria
that build up on the teeth may cause your pet to have bad breath, bleeding, pain, trouble
eating, and some teeth may even fall out. Even more worrisome than a lost tooth is the
damage the bacteria can do in the rest of your pets body. Studies have shown that bacteria in
the mouth can get into the blood stream and migrate to the kidneys, heart, or liver and cause
severe damage there that may eventually lead to death.
The best way to keep your pets mouth healthy is prevention of dental disease and
plaque buildup before it starts. Daily brushing is the most reliable way to keep bacteria from
establishing a stronghold in your pets mouth, chewing on abrasive surfaces and certain diets
can also help reduce bacteria load. For more information on how to get your pet used to you
brushing their teeth check out this link
http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/vetmed/data/articlestandard//vetmed/182007/4246
80/article.pdf
My pet won’t tolerate me brushing its teeth, is there anything else I can do to help keep
his teeth and mouth healthy? If given enough time almost all pets eventually accept brushing,
but forcing an animal to do something always carries a risk. There are lots of products on the
market and in stores that claim to keep teeth clean and healthy, however not all of them are
created equal, as a general rule if it sounds too good to be true it probably is. CET Dental
Chews (http://www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/c.e.t.-enzymatic-oral-hygiene-chews-fordogs/dental-health/chews) and Hill Prescription Food T/D (teeth diet) are two products that
have proven results when brushing isn’t an option these are the next best thing.
My dog has lots of toys that he chews on and plays with all the time, does that mean I
don’t have to worry about his teeth? The answer here really is, it depends. Some toys do help
remove plaque from teeth while others do not and can actually damage the teeth. Lots of
dogs LOVE tennis balls but the abrasive outer surface often wears down the canine teeth and
can lead to painful pulp exposure. If you have a ball loving dog, a smooth surface ball might be
a better choice for their teeth. Hard nylon products can also be dangerous. These products
are often so hard that aggressive chewing can lead to broken painful teeth and damaged
gums, especially in puppies and small dogs.
My pet already has severe dental disease can I fix it with daily brushing and a dental
diet? Unfortunately no, once your pet has a significant amount of plaque built up on their
teeth a professional dental cleaning by a veterinarian is required to restore oral health. To
allow veterinarians to perform a full oral examination the use of anesthesia is needed in all
pets. A dental includes a thorough history and visual exam, often with radiographs, and all
abnormalities being charted. An ultrasonic scaler is then used to remove the plaque from all
surfaces of the teeth and any teeth that are too unhealthy to be saved are carefully extracted
(pulled). After scaling is complete, all the teeth are polished to remove any left-over plaque
and to prevent future build up by smoothing out the tooth surface.
There you have it, the basics of dog and cat dental care. Brushing is best, start early and
brush often. When brushing isn’t an option certain chews and foods can help reduce bacterial
load. For specific recommendations for your pet and to find out what stage gum disease they
may have call our office to schedule an appointment today!