Pet Care

APet oral health and dental disease is a real issue, I would arguably say it is one of the most common we diagnose in veterinary medicine. Your pet’s teeth and oral cavity is like ours, and for teeth and gums to remain healthy, it takes effort on our part to sustain that.

Gingivitis can cause significant oral pain and loss of teeth, and it will make pets reactive when you are around their mouths and faces. Instead of chewing food, the may just gulp it. And the bacteria covering their teeth will go into the blood stream via the inflamed gingiva and can cause chronic urinary tract and kidney infections as well as lung and heart infections. I often tell clients if the level of disease in their pet’s mouth was on their skin instead, they would never let it go on so long.

When I mention dental care to owners, the first comment I hear is that they have had dogs their entire life, never brushed the dog’s teeth and she lived 16 years.

Can’t argue with that, but let me give you some other information to think about. The lives of dogs in America have undergone huge changes. They are no longer backyard occupants chewing sticks, chasing rabbits and eating scraps. Today, they are literally sitting at peoples’ tables, couches and beds and riding in cars, strollers and backpacks. They have been converted to furry children for many owners, and with that transition, veterinarians have become furkid pediatricians. Genetics and breed variances can affect the health of a pet’s teeth, so it is not entirely within our control. As with humans, brushing every day does not prevent 100 percent of dental disease.

Veterinary medicine, however, is advancing in leaps and bounds based on client demand for more options and a higher level of care. A proactive way or preventive approach to oral health is brushing teeth, just like with your twolegged kids. Familiarizing your pet with the process and the sensation of brushing or wiping the teeth needs to start and needs to be done as close to daily as you can. Once a month does not accomplish much. By brushing, you are using the friction of the toothbrush against the teeth (with or without pet toothpaste) to decrease the bacteria stuck on the teeth, just like we do. Dogs chewing on treats and toys, dental chews, etc., also provide a similar friction to the teeth. I compare it to when you have gone somewhere and forgotten your toothbrush and you may use a washcloth and rub on your teeth—not quite the same but it does work.

The market is flooded with options to help lower oral bacteria and lessen dental disease. There are dental enzymatic treats, rinses, gels, prebiotics (not the same as probiotics), sprays, foods and more. Each offers some degree of helpfulness, but effectiveness is based on that individual pet’s oral health level.

Lastly, pets, like us, still need dental cleanings by a trained professional. The frequency is based on the individual pet. Now comes the scary part: the anesthesia, the risk, the cost. Yep, sorry, it isn’t cheap, but it does make a HUGE difference in your pet’s quality of life and life span. Veterinary medicine has advanced in medications and anesthetic protocols, so many of the risk factors have lessened, and during certain times of the year many veterinarians will run “specials” on dentals to help reduce some of the financial stress. Please seek out the advice of your veterinarian for further guidance on your pet’s oral health and for recommendations. SP

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