Taking Care of Your Pet’s Teeth
Can Mean Better Health Overall!
By Dr. Tony LoBue
Crossroads Animal Hospital
Perhaps one of the
most neglected items of dog and cat general health care and maintenance is the care
of their teeth. Veterinarians are frequently asked why there is a foul odor
emanating from the pet’s mouth. In most all cases, an oral examination reveals
dental problems.
After a pet is a few
years of age, tartar begins to accumulate at the junction of the gums and
teeth. If this tartar is not periodically removed by your veterinarian, it will
increase, and it becomes heavier and heavier.
Eventually the tartar undermines the tissue and causes receding gums.
This
is called periodontal disease.
The affected area
then becomes an excellent medium for inflammation and bacterial infection,
which of course causes the foul odor as well as a constant bad unsavory taste
for the pet. If not corrected, severe gum infection, abscessed teeth, and cheek
ulcers can soon develop.
As a concerned pet
owner you should be aware that chronic infections of the teeth and gums can
result in the same complicated problems in dogs and cats as in humans. These
include diseases of the liver, arthritis and other functional disturbances. By
having your pet’s teeth cleaned annually, you can increase their life span by
20 percent. Research has demonstrated that periodontal disease is the No. 1
disease that is likely to affect your pet.
Miniature and toy
breeds exhibit dental problems more frequently and much earlier in life than do
the larger breeds. At six months of age, deciduous (baby) teeth should fall
out. However, in the toy breeds veterinarians frequently see the teeth remain.
These deciduous teeth must be pulled or the permanent teeth will push out of
their normal position and large amounts of tartar will accumulate between the
two teeth.
Cats produce dental
tartar and subsequent gingivitis and mouth infections (stomatitis). Felines
appear to have more sensitive gums than dogs. As a result of poor dental
conditions, cats will often stop eating, show weight loss and nutritional
disturbances.
In order to clean
your pet’s teeth, general anesthesia is required. With modern monitoring
devices, pre-anesthesia blood work, X-rays, ECG (electrical heart function
test) and safe anesthesia products, I personally feel that the results from
teeth cleaning far out weigh the small amount of risk from the anesthesia.
Veterinary dentistry has expanded to root canals in place of extractions, root
planning for tooth survival, and restorative dentistry.
I strongly
recommended that dentistry become an essential part of your pet’s total health
care plan with periodic examination of the teeth and gums.