Dental Care: The Root of Your Pet's Health

Dental Care: The Root of Your Pet's Health

            Who doesn’t love getting kisses from their better half?  No I don’t mean your partner, your dog of course!  It is all fun games until your dog has a mouth that could clear out a room while you are watching the Packers-Bears game with friends.  But again, who wants Bear fans in their home?! (Yes I’m a Packer fan).

How Common is Dental Disease?

            According to the American Veterinary Dental College, periodontal disease is the MOST COMMON clinical condition occurring in adult dogs and cats, and worse yet it is ENTIRELY preventable.  How common you might wonder?  Several studies have shown that in dogs by age 2 or 3, about 85-90% of them have some form of periodontal disease.  This number mirrors what I see in my daily practice.  Other than bad breath, there are unfortunately very few signs of periodontal disease.  As a result, a dental treatment comes often too late for many of these patients and leads to many teeth needing to be removed.

What can you do to prevent dental disease in your pet?

            The good news though, is that a lot of the disease that I see can be prevented with at home care.  This includes brushing of the teeth, chewing on bones, dental prescription diets, and dental chew products.  Before choosing a dental product, talk to your veterinarian of where to find products that are scientifically proven to help reduce dental disease.  He or She will likely talk about the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC.org).  This council will validate manufacturer’s claims of decreasing dental disease.  You can go to this council’s website and look for products that you

can try.  My favorite products to use are “dental diets”.  I look at this as us brushing our teeth once or twice a day depending on how often you feed your dog.  It is easy and dogs love these products.

            

The goal of at home care is the same goal with your own dental health; a beautiful pain-free, functional mouth.  Dental cleanings will still be recommended by your veterinarian, just like we see our dentists regularly.  By doing more frequent cleaning treatments, anesthesia time will be less, there will be less teeth extracted over the course of the life of the dog, and there will be less risk of systemic disease as a result of chronic dental disease.

In closing, I want your dogs to be among your friends watching the game due to the fact that he/she has a healthy mouth.  The more Packers fans the better during a Packers-Bears game!  Please look at the following websites for more information and talk to your veterinarian as well regarding dental cleaning treatments.  

By: 

Nick Juleen, DVM
Companion Animal Hospital Kenosha

Websites:  The American Veterinary Dental College, www.avdc.org and The Veterinary Oral Health Council, www.vohc.org. 

February is Pet Dental Month

February is National Pet Dental Health Month

Let’s work on making it a year-round goal.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the month of February is National Pet Dental Health Month.  This was started to raise awareness to our pets’ oral health which is a fantastic goal.  I support this notion, but all kidding aside, it takes more than one month out of twelve to make a healthy mouth.

Unfortunately tartar happens.  We humans brush our teeth every day, twice a day.  When we visit our dentist (ideally twice a year) they can still find plaque and tartar to remove from our teeth.  Our four-legged friends are not that different in what causes periodontal disease, except that they don’t open up and say “ahhh” nearly as much as we veterinarians and owners would like.  It starts when bacteria and plaque harden to tartar.  This leads to inflammation and infection of the gums which eventually works its way to the roots of the teeth and at its worst, leads to loss of bone, loosening of the tooth, and loss of the tooth.

Even more concerning, advanced dental disease can lead to bacteria in the bloodstream which can cause microscopic damage to the heart, liver, and kidneys.

The key to managing dental health and therefore gum infection and tooth decay is prevention!  Brushing daily to every other day is the gold standard as this keeps the plaque from becoming hardened tartar.  However, when this is not an option, consider daily chewing activities.  When using products to clean you pets’ teeth, make sure they are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council and appropriate for your pets’ size and chewing capacity.  There are prescription dental diets that can be used as aids as well, as can a variety of oral rinses, sprays, and enzymatic chews from C.E.T.

Also, have your pet’s mouth checked periodically by your veterinarian.  If we recommend a professional dental cleaning, or dental prophy, take it to heart as we are trying to prevent your pet from having to have numerous teeth extracted.  Regular professional dental care is a great addition to the care you provide at home in order to control plaque and tartar!  Depending on breed, genetics, chewing habits, and home-care routine, some pets may need a professional prophy and evaluation every 6-12 months to maintain oral health – just like us!  Others will need it much less frequently.

Good luck folks!  Keep smiling and don’t be afraid to talk to us about your pet’s dental health, no matter what month of the year it is!

article written by:

Dr. Jessica Smith

Companion Animal Hospital Mount Prospect

There are so many dental treats on the market…..which ones work the best?

There are so many dental treats on the market - 
which ones work the best?

Home dental care plays an important role reducing the need for a professional dental cleaning for your pet by your veterinarian.  Professional dental cleanings performed by your veterinarian are proven to be important to your pet’s overall health, but it’s the treatment owners do at home between cleanings that can have a bigger effect!

Daily teeth brushing has long been the best way to prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar.  Many pet owners, however, find it difficult to make this a priority in their pets.  For this reason, dental treats have gained in popularity as they are seen as a more convenient alternative to brushing.

Dental treats typically break up plaque as it forms on the teeth.  There are two main ways this is accomplished.  The first is associated with the mechanical action of chewing.  Many treats are strategically shaped to help “brush” the teeth as they are chewed.  Dental treats will typically take a bit longer for your pet to eat than a treat not meant to have this function.  Many dental treats also contain enzymes which interact with developing plaque on the teeth.  Together, the mechanical chewing action and enzymatic cleaning help slow the accumulation of tartar formation and periodontal disease development.

Which dental treats are the best?  In general, look for an item which is approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC).  These products typically have a seal of approval on them which states they are VOHC accepted.  The VOHC is a group of veterinary dentists and dental scientists and their approval indicates regular use of that product will reduce the severity of periodontal disease in pets.

Professional dental cleanings will always be necessary to maintain oral health.  Teeth brushing and treats can help slow the progression of plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease helping make your pet’s dental more routine.  Look for the VOHC seal of approval the next time you are looking for a dental treat!

www.vohc.org

article written by:

Derek Williamson, DVM

Crawford Animal Hospital

Preventative Home Dental Care for Your Pet

Preventive home dental care is one of the least expensive and most important things you can do for your pet’s health. Decreasing plaque and preventing tartar formation has wide-spread health benefits throughout your pet’s body. There are many options for a home dental care routine; you can combine daily brushing with the use of special diets, like Hill’s t/d, CET chews and VOHC (veterinary oral health council) approved treats. The more you can do at home, the less will need to be done by your veterinarian.

 

Daily brushing is the single most effective way to control plaque and tartar build up. Brushing the teeth mechanically eliminates the soft plaque that forms on your pet’s teeth before it turns to hardened tartar that causes gingivitis (inflammation of the gums). Tooth pastes come in pet-friendly flavors, like poultry, beef and seafood. It is important to use an enzymatic paste specifically for pets as human toothpaste can be harmful. You only need to brush the outside surfaces of the teeth, paying particular attention to where the teeth and gums meet. Keep it positive for your pet and give them a treat, a favorite toy or play time afterwards as a reward. Your pet will also be more accepting if this is part of their daily routine every day. Dogs and cats thrive in predictability and routine.

In addition to tooth brushing, there are many other options that can be part of an effective home dental care routine. From special foods to treats, like Greenies, VeggieDents, Dentabones and more, there is something to help every mouth. The VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) is an independent organization that evaluates the effectiveness of products that claim to control plaque and tartar in dogs and cats. There is a list of products that are proven effective – treats, food, etc – on their website at www.vohc.org. It’s best to chose from this list. Other products may or may not work as they claim.

Have fun keeping your pets’ mouths healthy and giving them the best chance at a long, healthy life.

article written by:

Sheila Newenham, DVM

Companion Animal Hospital Mount Prospect

Dental Care for your pets

During an annual exam for your pet, your veterinarian may have told you your dog or cat needs a dental cleaning. However, many people don’t understand exactly what that means. Is the vet brushing your pet’s teeth? Why do they need to be “asleep” for it? Below is a basic outline for dental cleanings in pets!

Step 1: First step is to have your vet do an oral exam on your pet.

·         During this time, the veterinarian will assess things like degree of plaque buildup, gingivitis (inflamed gums), or gum recession (how much gum loss there is over the tooth). This will allow the veterinarian to discuss things like obvious extractions that may be needed. However, remember that there can be more dental disease hiding underneath that tartar, so this is why the cleaning itself is so important!

Step 2: Schedule the dental and drop your pet off to the vet’s

·         Once you arrive, vet technicians will typically check vitals on your pet (temperature, respiration rate, pulse) and run blood work. The veterinarian will then do an exam on your pet and review the blood work results to make sure that your pet is a good candidate for anesthesia.  Once it’s determined that anesthesia is a safe option, an IV catheter is placed to give your pet fluids and other medications to help keep them stable and comfortable under anesthesia.

Step 3:  The cleaning

·         Once your pet is placed under anesthesia, an endotracheal tube is placed into their trachea to protect their airways from any excess water while the teeth are being cleaned. This tube also allows oxygen and anesthetic gas to flow into your pet to keep them at a safe anesthetic plane.  The teeth are then cleaned and polished by a veterinary technician, while a veterinarian oversees the whole process.

Step 4: Assessing the teeth

·         Once your pet’s dental cleaning is finished, any teeth that are loose, broken, discolored or otherwise suspicious looking will be further examined, probed and x-rayed. If the teeth are found to be diseased, a local anesthetic block will be applied and the tooth will be extracted.  Some teeth have several roots, so the use of a gum flap and drill are needed- this is why we are so careful to use pain medications in our anesthetic protocol as well as local nerve blocks.  

Step 5: Recovery

·         Once the dental treatment is finished, your pet is woken up and our vet team oversees their recovery. They typically will go home to their pet parents that afternoon. If there were extractions, they may also go home with pain medications.

As you can see, there is a whole lot more to a “dental cleaning” than just brushing you pets teeth! Most people find that their pet is happier and perkier after a dental cleaning, especially if they had bad teeth (just think how crummy you feel when you have a tooth ache).  Your pet will thank you (and their breath will stink less!) 

article by:

Dr. Erin Walsh

Companion Animal Hospital Mount Prospect

There are so many dental treats on the market…..which ones work the best?

Home dental care plays an important role reducing the need for a professional dental cleaning for your pet by your veterinarian.  Professional dental cleanings performed by your veterinarian are proven to be important to your pet’s overall health, but it’s the treatment owners do at home between cleanings that can have a bigger effect!

Daily teeth brushing has long been the best way to prevent the accumulation of plaque and tartar.  Many pet owners, however, find it difficult to make this a priority in their pets.  For this reason, dental treats have gained in popularity as they are seen as a more convenient alternative to brushing.

Dental treats typically break up plaque as it forms on the teeth.  There are two main ways this is accomplished.  The first is associated with the mechanical action of chewing.  Many treats are strategically shaped to help “brush” the teeth as they are chewed.  Dental treats will typically take a bit longer for your pet to eat than a treat not meant to have this function.  Many dental treats also contain enzymes which interact with developing plaque on the teeth.  Together, the mechanical chewing action and enzymatic cleaning help slow the accumulation of tartar formation and periodontal disease development.

Which dental treats are the best?  In general, look for an item which is approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC).  These products typically have a seal of approval on them which states they are VOHC accepted.  The VOHC is a group of veterinary dentists and dental scientists and their approval indicates regular use of that product will reduce the severity of periodontal disease in pets.

Professional dental cleanings will always be necessary to maintain oral health.  Teeth brushing and treats can help slow the progression of plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease helping make your pet’s dental more routine.  Look for the VOHC seal of approval the next time you are looking for a dental treat!

www.vohc.org

article written by:

Derek Williamson, DVM

Companion Animal Hospital Vernon Hills