Pets Need Dental Care, Too!
Did you
know your pet needs regular dental care for a healthy, happy life? This time of year, veterinarians across the
country work together to get pet owners the information you need to prevent
severe dental problems.
By the age
of 3 years, 80% of dogs and cats have developed early to moderate stages of
dental disease. Usually the first
symptom of a dental problem is bad breath.
This is often followed by more serious problems such as the development
of yellow plaque along the gumline, swollen and red gums that may bleed, pain
in the mouth, and a decreased appetite or aversion to hard food. In the final stages of dental disease, known
as periodontal disease, infection causes loss of bone around the tooth roots,
which causes the teeth to become loose and fall out. This condition is painful for pets. The infection associated with periodontal
disease can also spread to other organs in the body such as the heart and
kidneys, potentially causing life-threatening problems.
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| Severe periodontal disease in a dog. Don't wait this long for dental care in your pet! |
The good
news is that severe dental disease in pets is preventable! Through proper anesthetized dental cleanings
and home dental care, you can keep your pet’s smile healthy!
Dental Home Care
Without a
doubt, the best way to keep your pet’s teeth healthy at home is by daily
brushing. Most pet owners do not brush
their pet’s teeth. However, taking time
to brush your pet’s teeth every day can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars
in dental care for your pet!
It is
always best to introduce your pets to the tooth brushing process when they are
young, preferably during puppy and kittenhood.
Many tools are available to help you with this process! Long and short toothbrushes, fingerbrushes,
and pet safe toothpastes in a variety of flavors are at your disposal. Make this process a positive one, by
providing your pet plenty of praise and treats while you learn how to brush
their teeth together! If you need
assistance with this process, our knowledgeable and dedicated Noah’s
veterinarians and veterinary technicians would be happy to give you some
pointers.
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| VOHC Seal of Approval |
Though
nothing replaces the benefits of tooth brushing for your pet, other resources
are available to help with dental health!
Be wary, however, of the claim of some products to prevent plaque and tartar
buildup in your pet. Look for products
with a seal from the Veterinary Oral Health Council! The VOHC tests pet dental products, and
awards their seal only to those products with a proven track record.
At Noah’s
Animal Hospitals, our favorite products are Hill’s Science Diet Prescription
t/d food, and Tartar Shield Soft Rawhide Chews – both VOHC approved, of
course! These products are readily
available for purchase at all of our Noah’s locations.
Anesthetized Dental Care
Once your
pet develops plaque, tartar, gingivitis (gum disease), or loose or fractured
teeth, simple tooth brushing at home is no longer effective at resolving the
problem. At this point, your pet
requires a full, anesthetized mouth examination, with proper dental scaling and
polishing. In some cases, dental x-rays
and removal of diseased teeth is necessary.
Usually, the full extent of disease
in your pet’s mouth cannot be evaluated until the teeth are cleaned of
calculus, and the oral exam is completed.
This is because tooth disease can hide beneath the calculus, and beneath
the gumline. Once the full oral exam is
completed, if unexpected disease is found, your Noah’s doctor will call you
with an update and recommendations regarding further treatment for your pet. Below are pictures of a canine patient before and after a much needed dental cleaning!
Many owners are hesitant to pursue
proper scaling and polishing of their pet’s teeth due to the need for
anesthesia. We understand your concerns,
and make every effort to provide a safe anesthetic experience for your
pet. However, anesthesia is absolutely
essential to perform a thorough job in your pet’s mouth! Unfortunately, pets will not sit or lay still
for even a simple dental cleaning as we humans will! To effectively clean the bacteria from the
mouth, our scaling instruments must clean beneath the gumline, which is
painful, especially if gingivitis is present.
Our dental equipment is very similar to the equipment used by your
dentist, which means it is loud and frightens pets. The tartar and calculus may be inhaled as
they are scaled away, and anesthesia with a tube in the airway prevents this
from happening. Lastly, removal of teeth
if necessary is a painful process, and requires anesthesia and appropriate pain
control.
Every Noah’s patient is evaluated
for anesthesia with a full physical examination, and the anesthesia protocol is
tailored individually for each pet.
Bloodwork to assess organ function, blood counts, and clotting times is
often recommended to determine the safety of anesthesia medications. Increased anesthesia risks may arise with the
age of your pet or any chronic disease your pet may have. Your Noah’s doctor will discuss any increased
risks with you prior to the procedure.
Additional testing may be recommended prior to anesthesia for your pet,
on a case by case basis. As always, if
you have any questions or concerns about this process, ask to speak with your
Noah’s doctor.
Some of our clients have seen
advertising for “anesthesia free” pet dentistry. “Anesthesia free” dentistry is a disservice
to you and your pet. Appropriate cleaning
beneath the gumline cannot be achieved when your pet is stressed and
moving. If the area under the gumline is
not thoroughly cleaned, tartar recurs immediately and infection around the
toothroots is more likely to occur. In
addition, in the awake pet, tartar and calculus that is scaled off may be
inhaled into the lungs, leading to a serious lung infection. This service is neither safe nor effective
for your pet!
Dental Special Month!
From now
through March 16th, Noah’s Animal Hospitals are featuring our annual
Dental Special Month! (OK, it’s longer
than 1 month, but we are the generous type!)
If your pet receives a dental cleaning during our special, he or she
will go home with a FREE bag of Hill’s Prescription diet t/d OR Hill’s Healthy
Advantage food! Other promotional deals
may be available during this time. Call
your Noah’s Animal
Hospital today to
schedule an appointment!
