End Bad Dog Breath Today
Good dental care for your pet is quickly becoming an essential
By Sally Broomfield
CTW Features
Toothache? You want relief and you want it fast. But what does your pet do about a toothache? Unfortunately, not much.
“Most animals will not act in any way to show that they have dental pain. It’s not in their nature to show any weakness. In the wild, nothing good comes from that,” says veterinary dental specialist Tony M. Woodward of the Animal Dental Clinic in Colorado Springs, Colo. “The fact is, without dental x-rays, you won’t ever know” many of your animal’s dental issues.
Common problems include:
• Periodontal disease
This is the number one dental problem affecting dogs and cats, says veterinarian Robert Boyd of Veterinary Dental Services, Houston, Texas, and president of the American Veterinary Dental Society. As in humans, bacteria infect gums, ligaments and bone. In severe cases, the infection can get into the bloodstream, affecting organs. Cleaning, antibiotics or possibly surgery may be recommended depending on severity.
• Tooth resorption
Sixty percent of cats over the age of six experience this, says Boyd, and it is becoming more prevalent in dogs. Specialized tooth cells begin to break down the tooth. Since this normally occurs at the gum line or below, it is often only detected with an x-ray. Extraction is usually the solution.
• Fractured teeth
More common than people realize, fractures normally occur in canine (fang) teeth and molars. Not only do fractures cause the animal pain, they also create an opening for bacteria. For important teeth, crowning may be recommended over extraction.
• Tumors
Often benign in dogs and more often malignant in cats, the earlier oral tumors are caught and assessed the better. If removal is necessary, surgery could be minor. The most aggressive tumors may require removal of some healthy looking tissue surrounding the tumor, according to Woodward.
• Tooth misalignment
Occasionally baby teeth don’t make room for adult teeth, jaws may be too small and improper bites can cause teeth to impact soft tissue. Extractions can help and even, rarely, braces, though they’re not recommended for merely cosmetic purposes. “Every animal deserves a comfortable mouth, not necessarily a perfect mouth,” says Boyd.
What should a concerned pet owner do? Brush daily. Yes, daily, Boyd emphasizes. And yes, you can brush your cat’s teeth. The vet school at Cornell University has a great online video to demonstrate. (www.felinevideos.vet.cornell.edu). The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has a good article on brushing dogs’ teeth. (www.healthypet.com – click on pet care library). An added advantage to homecare, says Boyd, is that owners become familiar with their pets’ mouths and can recognize the unusual.
While you’re brushing, AAHA recommends noticing:
• Brownish teeth. Tartar is generally golden brown. Healthy teeth should be white and shiny.
• Swollen, red, or bleeding gums – signs of periodontal disease.
• Persistent bad breath. Dogs do not naturally have bad breath. Halitosis is generally caused by an infection in the mouth.
• Loose, lost or broken teeth
• Pus between teeth and gums
• Unusual growths in mouth
Also pay attention if your pet seems reluctant to eat, play with chew toys or drink cold water.
Make sure to take your pet to annual dental exams. Daily home care is great, but owners don’t generally pick up everything. Problems in the back of the mouth and under the gum lines can go unnoticed. Woodward estimates that 50 to 65 percent of problems he discovers wouldn’t be found without an x-ray.
Consider a specialist – most vets receive little or no dental training in vet school. Veterinary dentistry has developed as a field in the past 25 years. Many vets still do not believe in the necessity of dental care for pets and don’t possess the equipment or training necessary. Veterinary dentists have received extensive post-graduate training in this area.
Regardless of whom you choose, Woodward recommends asking these questions:
• Does your vet own and regularly use a dental x-ray machine? If the answer isn’t yes to both, go elsewhere.
• Does your vet do the dental work after the cleaning, or does an assistant do some of the work?
• Has your vet received additional training in dentistry?
• Does your vet routinely do pre-surgical blood work? Often health problems can be detected that might affect the administration of anesthesia.
• Will an IV be used? Woodward won’t anesthetize an animal without an IV hooked up. This helps keep hydration and blood pressure in a good range, which aids in a good wake-up and recovery. It can be used to administer pain medications and is immediately available should an emergency arise requiring its use.
• How often has your vet lost a patient to an anesthesia death? In 10 years and 10,000 patients, Woodward has lost one. The risk is generally low even for older or less healthy animals, if proper procedures are followed, he says. He warns, however, that there is little oversight in the veterinary community and standards vary. In his practice he not only uses monitoring equipment, but also a dedicated observer for each anesthetized procedure.
Other considerations:
• Avoid human toothpaste. Dogs and cats are more sensitive to fluoride than humans.
• Buy products with the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) Seal of Approval. Visit www.vohc.org for a list of products that help prevent plaque and tartar build-up.
• Avoid hard, brittle toys that can cause fractures.
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