Vital Pet Health

Paul Manktelow.  Dental disease is one of the most common problems that veterinary surgeons face in practice.  It can start in animals as young as two years old and progress as the animal ages.  Severe forms of dental disease can result in infections through the body and even kidney and liver disease.  The most common form of dental disease is called periodontal disease.

 

Periodontal disease

This type of dental disease refers to the teeth and the supporting structures around the teeth.  It starts with the formation of plaque (food and bacterial debris) on the tooth surface.  This leads to gingiva (gums) becoming very sore and inflamed.  This inflammation is termed gingivitis. The plaque eventually hardens and mineralises to form tartar.

If left untreated the periodontal disease progresses leading to gum recession.  The supporting ligaments which hold the teeth and the bone in which the teeth sit all become damaged causing loosening of the decaying teeth.  Deep pockets of infection often result with pus, pain and bleeding in the animal’s mouth.

Signs of Dental Disease

• Halitosis
• Drooling
• Oral pain
• Head shaking/ clawing at face
• Anorexia
• Food dropping
• Plaque
• Tartar
• Gingivitis (red inflamed gums)
• Weight loss

Treatment of dental disease

Any signs of dysphagia (difficulty eating) or oral pain require immediate veterinary attention.  Close inspection of the teeth and surrounding structures is only possible under general anaesthetic since animals do not tolerate a dental examination conscious.

Your veterinary surgeon will assess the extent of the periodontal disease and decide if any extractions need to be performed.  Decayed teeth obviously need to be removed, as do broken, exposed and infected teeth.  Any remaining teeth which are healthy and solid are usually scaled and polished to remove any forming tartar.  Debris around the gingival margin (gum line) is also removed.

Recovery from a dental procedure is often rapid, even with multiple extractions.  The animals often eat readily at home the same day.  This is because the source of the oral pain has been removed.

Prevention of Dental Disease

Halitosis is often the first alerting sign of developing dental disease.  Many owners think that bad breath is unpleasant but normal in their pets.  It is not normal and is usually an early sign of a diseased mouth.

Checking your pet’s mouth for signs of dental disease should be a regular part of routine healthcare.

Plaque usually forms around the premolars and molars first so it is important to carefully check the back teeth when examining your pet’s mouth.  Gingivitis will often look like angry red gum around the tooth.  Gingivitis and tartar often go hand in hand and appear in close proximity.

A variety of dental health products exist.  It is important to select ones that you will be able to teach your pet to tolerate without harm to you or your pet.  Teeth brushing is an excellent way of maintaining dental health in pets but is less tolerated by some.  It is easier to start brushing when an animal is younger.

Brushing your pets teeth

Always introduce teeth brushing slowly and gradually.  Allow your pet to become accustomed to this type of handling by gradual progressive techniques.  It is counter productive to pin an animal down and try and force a procedure and can also put you and your pet at risk.

To introduce your pet to the idea of brushing first dip your finger in some food your pet would consider tasty.  Rub this finger around the lips and possibly inside the mouth.  This can be repeated on a number of occasions while giving your pet praise.  The idea is that this experience will be a pleasant one.  Next try and wrap some cloth around your finger and again dip this in the tasty food.  Rub your finger inside the cheek against the teeth.

If this is tolerated then try a pet toothbrush with some tasty food on the tip. Concentrate on the gum margin along all the teeth. It is important to go gradually, increasing the area you brush each time.  As you progress change the food for a specific pet dental paste which helps clean the teeth.

The process of brushing should be full of praise for your pet. The positive reinforcement should help make the process much more pleasurable for both pet and owner.

It isn’t as important to clean the inside of the teeth as it is the outside. The long tongue of dogs often rubs the inside surface of the teeth so that plaque formation is less here than the outside of the teeth. However if your pet will tolerate it then it is advisable to brush this area also.