Westside Veterinary Clinic’s
Monthly Awareness for February
Dental Disease In Your Pet
Dental Disease is a common and often overlooked problem in pets. While cavities represent the most common dental disease of humans, dogs and cats are more frequently bothered by tartar buildup on the teeth. Tartar accumulation leads to irritation of the gums around the base of the teeth, ultimately leading to the exposure of the roots.
Contributing Factors:
One of the main factors determining the amount of tartar buildup is the individual chemistry in the mouth. Some pets need yearly cleanings; other pets need a cleaning only once every few years.
Diet plays more of a minor role in development of tartar accumulation than most people think. Because dry food is not as sticky as canned food, it does not adhere to the teeth as much and thus, does not cause tartar buildup as rapidly. However, eating dry food does not remove tartar from the teeth. Once tartar forms, a professional cleaning is necessary. For cats, Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus may also be a contributing factor to dental disease.
Treatment:
Proper cleaning of the teeth requires complete cooperation of the patient so that plaque and tartar can be removed properly. Anesthesia is required to thoroughly clean the teeth. Many owners have a high degree of anxiety related to general anesthesia for their dogs. While there is always a degree of risk with any anesthetic, be aware that delaying proper dental care may ultimately compromise the pet’s health.
To minimize risk, Westside Veterinary Clinic uses modern anesthetics that are deemed safe even for older pets. Also, depending on the pet’s age and general health status, a pre-anesthetic blood chemistry panel may be drawn prior to anesthesia. This simple blood panel will check the function of the kidneys and liver, as well as the packed cell volume to check for anemia or dehydration. Intravenous fluids are also strongly recommended and are sometimes required. Fluids help to maintain blood pressure and hydration.
There are four steps in the cleaning process that will be used on your pet:
- Scaling. This removes the tartar above and below the gum line. Ultrasonic tools are used to clean the teeth.
- Polishing. This smoothes the surface of the teeth, making them more resistant to additional plaque formation
- Flushing. This removes dislodged tartar from the teeth and helps to remove bacteria from the mouth.
- Fluoride Coating. This decreases teeth sensitivity, strengthens enamel, and decreases the rate of future plaque formation.
Preventative Measures:
Seeking regular veterinary care and having the teeth cleaned when advised is the most important step. It is also important to try and maintain a home dental care routine. Westside has special toothbrushes and flavored toothpastes available for your pet. We are happy to discuss creative techniques with you as well. Lastly, a tartar control diet is available from Science Diet and Royal Canin. It is available for purchase at Westside. It can be used as a maintenance diet, or as a treat. (It is what we use as cookies in the exam rooms!) However, keep in mind that the diet will not clean the teeth but may help prolong the interval between professional cleanings under anesthesia.
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