Dental Care For Your Pet

More than 85% of dogs and cats four years of age and older have oral health problems.

Like people, our pets need regular dental care to remove plaque and tartar buildup.  If left untreated, tartar buildup can lead to periodontal disease and more serious health problems.

What is periodontal disease and why is it dangerous for my pet?

The formation of plaque on your pet’s teeth leads to the development of tartar.  Tartar is the hard, brownish substance found on the tooth’s surface.  The canine and back molar teeth are often the most affected.  The buildup will irritate the gum tissue and encourage bacterial growth.  Bacteria will then eat away at the structure of the tooth, eventually leading to the regression of the gum tissue and possibly the loss of the tooth.  (This is periodontitis.)  The bacteria that builds up beneath the tartar can also enter your pet’s blood stream and contribute to disease of the kidneys, heart, and other organs.

How can I tell if my pet has periodontal disease?

The first signal of poor oral health is often bad breath.  Swollen or bleeding gums is also a common sign.  You should check your pet’s teeth for tartar buildup and redness or bleeding of the gums.  Some pets are predisposed to dental problems because of their breed, genetics, age, and/or diet.

What can I do if I think my pet has periodontal disease?

Your veterinarian can perform a complete oral examination and advise you of the steps needed to restore your pet’s dental health.  The doctor may recommend home dental care, or a complete dental cleaning.  Broken, damaged or loose teeth are evaluated and can be extracted, or a referral can be made to a dental specialist for more extensive repair.

What is involved with a complete dental cleaning?

Unfortunately, most pets will not sit still and allow a complete dental cleaning, so they must be put under general anesthesia.  Once your pet is anesthetized, a complete oral exam is performed to check for unhealthy teeth and gum tissue.  The teeth are then thoroughly cleaned with an ultrasonic cleaner above and below the gum line.  Next, a hand scaler is used to scrape off tartar hidden beneath the gum line and between the teeth.  After that, a dental probe is used to check for deep pockets under the gum line.  The surface of the teeth is then polished, and the dental cleaning is completed with an antiseptic oral rinse.  If you wish, a protective barrier sealant called Oravet can be applied to the surfaces of your pet’s teeth after the dental cleaning.  This is a step that should be repeated at home weekly to inhibit future tartar buildup.

What steps can I take to help keep my pet’s mouth healthy?

Daily tooth brushing is the best way to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy.  This may not always be possible, so even weekly tooth brushing is better than none at all.  If your pet will not tolerate regular brushing, you can try applying Oravet Barrier Sealant once weekly to inhibit the buildup of plaque and new tartar formations.  A new product called Vetzlife is also available in both spray and gel form.  This product breaks down tartar that has already formed and works best if a small amount is applied to the mouth daily.  There are also a variety of oral antiseptic sprays which can help reduce bad breath and keeps gums healthy, but they are not effective at controlling plaque and tartar formation.  In addition, feeding only dry crunchy food in place of soft canned foods can help to reduce further buildup of plaque on the tooth surface.  Special dental diets are available which are formulated to break away buildup from teeth.  Dental chews and raw butcher bones also help remove some plaque and tartar.  The ideal home dental care plan for most pets involves a combination of some of the above treatments.  Consult your veterinarian to develop a dental health plan that you can perform regularly at home.  Consistent home dental care may reduce need for future dental cleanings, and can help your pet live a longer, healthier life.