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According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), 80 percent
of dogs show oral disease by age 3, and it is the most common health
problem treated in small animal health clinics today. The buildup of
bacteria in your dog's mouth may cause more than just bad breath;
according to research presented at a recent conference on Companion
Animal Oral Health, bacteria are also the cause of oral disease and
diseases in other organs of the body like the heart, liver and kidneys.
Just like humans, dogs teeth are prone to plaque buildup, and
when allowed to combine with saliva and residual food between the tooth
and gum, plaque turns to tartar. If plaque and tartar are not removed
routinely by your veterinarian, they may cause periodontal disease.
Gingivitis
is an inflammation of the gums most commonly caused by the accumulation
of food particles in the crevices between the gums and the teeth. The
main symptom is bleeding, although you may also notice redness, pain and
difficulty chewing. If gingivitis is not treated, it may lead to
periodontitis.
Periodontitis
is a serious infection that spreads to the tissues and bone in which
the teeth are rooted causing loss of the teeth. Unfortunately, this
disease is irreversible and may lead to other problems.
Broken teeth are a common problem, most commonly caused by aggressive chewing on hard objects.
What to Look For
The most common signs of oral disease are:
Yellow and brown tartar buildup
Bleeding
Bad breath
Red inflamed gums
Difficulty chewing
Change in eating habits
Pawing at the mouth
Veterinary Care
Fortunately,
veterinary dental knowledge has grown exponentially in the last few
years. Dental technology has also exploded, allowing your pet virtually
all of the dental care that you receive, including: dental implants,
braces (to enable a comfortable bite), ultrasonic scaling controlled
with microchips, root canals and bonding and brightening.
Veterinary
care should include periodic dental exams, which are important in order
to maintain good oral health. The frequency with which dental
examinations should be performed depends on your pet's age.
Puppies.
The mouth should be examined by your veterinarian immediately upon
acquiring your new pet and at every vaccination appointment up to four
months of age. A dental exam should be performed again at six months of
age. It is important to assess your pet's bite as well as his/her
overall oral health. Bite abnormalities can sometimes be corrected by
orthodontics before six months of age.
One to three years. At this age, unless you notice problems or your
veterinarian has developed a custom exam program due to special
circumstances, dental exams should be done annually.
Four to six years. If your pet has perfect teeth and you brush them
daily, annual exams may suffice, but many dogs in this age range require
exams every six months. It is better to have more frequent examinations
done and get a clean report card as opposed to finding potentially
painful problems later. Toothaches are painful for animals, just like
humans, but your pet won't be able to tell you that it hurts.
Seven years and up. Dental examinations should be performed every six months when your pet is seven years of age or older.
The Dental Exam
Your veterinarian can examine your dog's teeth in the exam room if
your pet is cooperative and does not have severe dental problems.
Full mouth X-rays are usually required because 70 percent of the tooth
structure is beneath the gum line and thus is invisible to the naked
eye.
Your veterinarian
may use a periodontal probe (a blunt probe that is used to check the
gum/tooth interface) to search for gum pockets and other problems. He
may use it sparingly in cooperative patients; however, a thorough exam
may require sedation or anesthesia. He will examine all soft tissues.
If anesthesia is required, new injectable anesthetics are available
which are short-acting (a few minutes), and relatively safe.
Additionally, new anesthetic monitors are available to help ensure that
the anesthesia is as safe as possible.
Home Care
Your dog needs preventive dental care just like you. AVDS recommends using a three-part dental care regimen to include:
Routine physical exams by your veterinarian
Regular dental care at home: Tooth brushing is the single most
important part of oral care and cannot be over-emphasized. If your pet
will allow it, you should brush her teeth daily. It is best to start
early since most dogs will allow brushing if you start when they are
puppies. Use a special toothpaste formulated for your pet; human
toothpaste may upset your dog's stomach.
Regular follow-up care: You can ask about specially formulated foods,
such as pet foods that have been developed to enhance oral care by their
abrasive action. Scientific studies have proven that these special
diets are beneficial in maintaining oral health.
There are also
numerous chew products available that may be helpful. Use common sense
and caution when choosing these products; (ask your veterinarian for
help). It is usually best to stay with softer products.
Recommended Products
Hill's Prescription Diet t/d?
Over the counter products such as Chew-Eez?
Various tooth brushes with a soft rating
Prescription products and Virbac Dentivet toothpastes
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