As a pet owner, you love your pets so much that you spend time walking and grooming them.  Have you ever thoughtabout brushing their teeth? 

Gingivitis and periodontal disease in dogs and cats have become widespread, and owners should take some simple actions to be sure their pet has good oral health.     

 According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 85 percent of dogs and cats show signs of oral disease by age four. The trouble begins when food particles and bacteria build up in the mouth to form plaque and tartar, which leads to reversible gingivitis. Gingivitis, if ignored, will progress to periodontal disease. Irreversible periodontal disease leads to tooth decay, bad breath, bleeding gums and, in severe cases, tooth loss. When bacteria from periodontal disease travels into a pet’s bloodstream, the lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and nervous system can be affected. These infections usually are treatable when caught at an early stage. However, if they are not caught in time, they can cause serious organ damage and even death.

ALL pets are at risk for developing dental problems, so it is important for owners to have their pets examined by a veterinarian regularly to detect problems early. It also is important for owners to check their pets often between visits for these warning signs: 

1. •Change in eating habits or dropping food
   

2. •Bad breath
   

3. •Tartar buildup on the teeth
   

4. •Swollen or bleeding gums
   

5. •Fractured teeth or abscesses
   

6. •noticeable pain when eating
   

A pet should be taken to a veterinarian immediately if it shows any of the above symptoms.

 It’s important for pet owners to seek professional veterinary care in addition to providing good oral health care for their pets at home.

These simple steps can help to ensure a lifetime of pet dental well being.

Step 1. Visit a veterinarian at least twice a year.

The veterinarian will examine a pet’s teeth and gums. They may recommend a professional dental cleaning, polishing and other dental care in the hospital and a program of home dental care.

 

Step 2. Professional dental cleaning.

If a pet already shows evidence of periodontal disease, a professional cleaning is a must.  The doctor will recommend blood analyses, and or radiography or other diagnostic tests to evaluate the heart, liver and kidneys for coexisting disease before proceeding with general anesthesia.

 

Once a pet is anesthetized, accumulated tartar and calculus are removed by ultrasonic and hand scaling. Radiographs are taken to identify teeth that are beyond repair can be extracted. Finally, the teeth are polished to slow down formation of new plaque, tartar and calculus.  In addition, a coating is placed on the teeth to prevent further tartar buildup.

 It is important that ONLY veterinarians and their trained staff, under direct supervision, perform dental cleaning. Only veterinarians have the knowledge, skills and abilities to diagnose and treat diseases of animals, including dental diseases. 

 

Step 3. Dental care at home.

Regular brushing is critical to any preventive dental program.  If brushing is impossible, then please contact your veterinarian.  Many alternatives to brushing exist and may aid in the battle against dental tartar.

For more information about pet dental care, dentistries and professional pet dental cleanings please click here.