People are generally aware that they should brush their teeth at least twice daily, floss regularly, and visit their dentist twice a year. Did you know many of the same ideals hold true for your pet? It is estimated that 80% of pets exhibit the beginning stages of periodontal disease by age 3, and that pets with good oral hygiene tend to live 2 to 4 years longer than pets with owners who neglect dental care. We recommend combining an at-home dental routine with annual dental exams and cleanings as needed to keep your pet loving you for as long as possible.
Bad breath is usually the first sign of periodontal disease. The same bacteria that cause bad breath, if left untreated, can spread through the bloodstream and can lead to cardiac disease, kidney infection, liver infection, or stroke.
Signs of periodontal disease:
Reasons for regular dental check-ups:
During your pet’s annual wellness exam our veterinarian will look for signs of tartar buildup and symptoms of other periodontal disease. We will discuss what you currently do at home for your pet’s dental care. We will then make recommendations for further care including a professional cleaning if necessary.
During a routine dental exam, your veterinarian may recommend digital dental radiographs, or x-rays, to assess the health of your pet’s teeth and gums. Dental radiography is a painless and safe way to obtain images of your pet’s mouth, teeth, and jaw bones. Without dental X-rays, you just see the tip of the iceberg. Dental radiographs allow us to see the area beneath the gumline where up to 75% of tooth structure lies. The visible part of the tooth gives you less than half of the information you need.
By taking full-mouth radiographs, we can more accurately diagnose very common diseases. Studies have shown dental disease is incompletely diagnosed 70% of the time without X-rays. Common findings using dental radiography include:
Because dental X-ray machines are designed to minimize radiation, these processes are safe and your pet’s exposure is negligible. In fact, we use the very latest digital X-rays, which further reduce radiation exposure and significantly improve the quality of the picture for the veterinarian to review. The images obtained may be enlarged, and image contrast can be increased or decreased to highlight potentially problematic areas. We can also store, print, and email digital files, making it easier for our staff to share your pet’s dental images with you or a referring specialist.
Although only taking a few minutes to complete, sedation or anesthetization is required during a dental radiograph to ensure your pet maintains the proper position for each x-ray. Speak with your veterinarian regarding other preventative care treatments your pet can undergo while sedated.
Pet dental cleanings are a surgical procedure requiring general anesthesia. As with all anesthetic procedures at Country Animal Hospital, there is a technician monitoring your pet’s vital signs using our our state-of-the-art equipment from the time of induction all the way through recovery. During your pet’s teeth cleaning, a dental technician will gently clean the surface of the teeth with an ultrasonic scaler that cleans using the vibration of sound waves and water. After scaling the teeth, the technician lightly buffs and polishes the teeth to prevent bacteria and food from sticking to the enamel. We then use a specially formulated rinse to wash bacteria from their mouth.
If your pet’s tooth becomes infected, we may need to extract the tooth to prevent the spread of the infection or to stop your pet’s pain. Tooth extractions are often a last resort. We work with pet owners to avoid extractions by providing preventative care.
After we complete your pet’s dental cleaning and treatments, we will provide you with a comprehensive analysis of your pet’s oral health. You will receive at-home oral hygiene tips specific to your pet, and if any serious dental conditions exist, you will be notified prior to any treatment planning. We will send your pet home with appropriate pain relief and antibiotics as necessary, and at discharge have a thorough conversation detailing your pet’s dental health care plan to ensure all of your questions are answered.
It is extremely important for you to have a home routine to care for your pet’s mouth. The more that you can do at home, the less frequent and invasive the professional cleanings under anesthesia need to be. There are many things a pet owner can do to provide excellent dental care for their pets, including:
The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC, www.vohc.org) reviews dental health products (diets, treats, and accessories) to determine if they meet standards of plaque and calculus (tartar) retardation in dogs and cats. The VOHC reviews studies and determines if the products meet their claims of helping veterinary dental health; if they do, products are awarded the VOHC Seal of Acceptance which can be found on the product’s packaging.
If you would like to schedule a professional dental cleaning for your pet, call our office and allow your pet to experience a healthy smile!
