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Dental Care for Furry Friends
By Tamara Sevigny
Most of us wouldn’t let years pass between visits to the dentist. Your pet’s dental health is just as important. Healthy teeth and gums are vital to the overall health of pets.
Pet owners commonly overlook dental care for dogs and cats. The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age 3. Dental disease can easily lead to other health problems. Some include lung, heart and kidney disease. Caring for your pet’s teeth properly can help avoid long term, serious problems.
One thing to watch out for is bad breath. It shouldn’t be ignored or treated with over the counter pet breath mints. There is usually an underlying problem to bad breath. Periodontal Disease could be the cause, and the sooner you have it checked out by your vet, the better.
Periodontal disease is an infection in the gums. It starts out with simple plaque, once the bacteria attaches to the teeth it forms a hard substance called tartar or calculus, which allows even more plaque to accumulate. Initially plaque is soft and can be removed with brushing or chewing hard food and toys. But once it spreads it can lead to gingivitis, inflaming the gums, making them red, swollen and can easily bleed.
Once plaque and calculus spread below the gum line, professional cleaning will be needed to help manage it. If the plaque and tartar buildup continues infection forms around the root of the tooth.
Finally the gums will be destroyed, the bones holding the tooth erode and the tooth becomes loose. This process is very painful, but can be averted before it even starts.
Veterinary dental care should start at the puppy and kitten life stage, but it is never too late to get dental care for your pet. As your pet gets older your vet will keep an eye on the development of teeth with oral exams and will keep your pet’s teeth healthy with regular cleanings.
Your veterinarian will look for abnormalities, the accumulation of plaque and tartar, periodontal disease and oral tumors. Though most oral examinations can be done while your pet is awake, cleanings and more extensive exams need to be done under anesthesia.
Dental care is not just the responsibility of your veterinarian. Home care plays a big part in proper care. Regular teeth brushing at home, as well as offering hard food and chew toys, will help remove plaque, keeping your pets teeth clean and healthy.
Pets can live longer, healthier lives if oral health care is maintained throughout their lives.
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