Give your pets a reason to smile!

By Jennifer Johnson, CVA, ASVDT, VNA

Dentistry is defined as: The branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases of the teeth, gums, and other structures of the mouth. Veterinary Dentistry is the same, but with patients who can’t tell us what seems to be ailing them.  

We all consider daily tooth brushing a routine habit. It’s important to have a clean mouth when dealing with others, posing for pictures, eating, talking, etc.; but what about our pets? They don’t have job interviews or go on dates, photo shoots (or maybe they do), or give lengthy speeches. Often, we forget about our pets’ teeth. They eat crunchy food, chew on rawhides, and gnaw on toys. That should be enough, right? Wrong.

Our pets can contract the exact same medical problems as humans when dealing with teeth and gums. Minor problems include: heavy tartar, gingivitis, bleeding gums and bad breath. Those minor issues can quickly escalate into periodontal disease, abscessed teeth, tooth root exposure and extreme halitosis. If that doesn’t sound bad enough, it can get far worse in the form of blood infections and liver and kidney problems. I can easily recall the one time I had an abscessed tooth. I was in extreme pain and drove myself to the dentist at lightning speed to have something done about it. I certainly hope that never happens to me again. Did you know that many of our pets have not just one, but multiple abscessed teeth in their mouths? They won’t tell you. They still eat, drink, play and chew on their rawhides like nothing is wrong. Can you imagine?

          As a responsible, loving pet owner, there are several ways you can help take care of your pets’ teeth and prevent major dental issues. Certainly, a high quality dog food, rawhides and chews designed for dental health are a step in the right direction. Water additives that can be purchased at your vet office can also be helpful, especially for those pets that aren’t chewers. It contains enzymes that keep nasty bacteria from causing gingivitis and periodontal disease. It is as simple as adding a capful of the product into your pets’ water bowl and letting them drink the water like normal. These products are really great for cats who tend to be slightly resistant to other methods of prevention. Last but not least, the most important preventative step you can take is brushing your pets’ teeth. Veterinarians recommend daily brushing, but even if you can only get it done two or three days a week, it will make a big difference! Only the outside facing surfaces of the teeth need brushing, so it’s not quite so difficult. No toothpaste is needed, just water. There are flavored pastes available to make the experience more tasty, but don’t ever use human toothpastes as they can be toxic to our pets. An older pet that has never experienced a tooth brushing may be a little resistant at first.

Go slow and eventually with time and patience, you’ll be able to establish a healthy routine.  It’s best to start them with a routine when they are puppies or kittens, but it is certainly never too late to start. It’s a great chore for children to brush their dogs’ teeth! 

          Another important step, especially if your pet already suffers from tarter and gingivitis, is a prophylactic dental cleaning at your Veterinarian’s office. It is an anesthetic procedure, so your pet is asleep the entire time. This allows for a complete and comprehensive exam of the teeth, gums, tongue and mouth, an ultrasonic scaling of the teeth to remove all tartar below and above the gum line, digital radiographs of all the teeth and their roots to check for problems hidden beneath the gum line, and finally a thorough polishing to protect and shine the teeth. This is an excellent starting point for home care and prevention, and is typically recommended yearly.

          February is National Pet Dental Health Month. It’s the time of the year that Veterinarians and their Staff try to educate clients and increase awareness about dental diseases and prevention of those diseases. At Murphy Road Animal Hospital, we offer a complimentary dental exam to provide you with more information about your pet’s dental health. This month, take a few extra minutes of your day and assess your pet’s dental health.  Would you go to the dentist if your teeth looked like that, or your breath smelled that bad? Your pets would too…but they can’t drive.

“A dentist at work in his vocation always looks down in the mouth.” ~George D. Prentice