Dental care for your pet
Would
you let years go by between visits to the dentist? Probably not! Your pet’s
dental health is just as important to his or her overall health as your dental
health is to your general health. To help veterinarians and their teams provide
excellent dental care for dogs and cats and educate pet owners about the
importance of proper dental care throughout their pets’ lives, the American
Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has developed the AAHA Dental Care Guidelines
for Dogs and Cats.
Why Dental Care?
Dental care of dogs and
cats is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health care. In fact, a
recent AAHA study showed that approximately two-thirds of pet owners do not
provide the dental care that is recommended as essential by veterinarians.
What’s more, the American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80 percent of
dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three.
Dental disease doesn’t
affect just the mouth. It can lead to more serious health problems including
heart, lung and kidney disease, which makes it all the more important that you
provide your pets with proper dental care from the start.
AAHA’s Dental Care
Guidelines for Dogs and Cats were designed to provide veterinarians and their
teams with a working framework for small animal dentistry practice, including
dental examinations and cleaning and surgical procedures. Your pet’s dental
health isn’t just in the hands of your veterinarian though. Pet owner education
regarding treatment options for optimum dental health and the importance of home
care are emphasized throughout the guidelines.
Periodontal Disease
Fido’s dog breath and
Tabby’s tuna breath aren’t something to be ignored – they could be indicative of
an oral problem, and the sooner you have it treated by your veterinarian (and
learn to care for it yourself), the sooner you and your pet can smile proudly.
Periodontal disease is
an infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth that takes hold in progressive
stages. It starts out as a bacterial film called plaque. The bacteria attach to
the teeth. When the bacteria die they can be calcified by calcium in saliva.
This forms a hard, rough substance called tartar or calculus which allows more
plaque to accumulate. Initially, plaque is soft and brushing or chewing hard
food and toys can dislodge it. If left to spread, plaque can lead to gingivitis,
an inflammation of the gums, causing them to become red and swollen and to bleed
easily.
As plaque and calculus
develop below the gum line, professional cleaning will be needed to help manage
it. If the plaque and tartar buildup continues unchecked, infection can form
around the root of the tooth.
In the final stages of
periodontal disease, the tissues surrounding the tooth are destroyed, the bony
socket holding the tooth in erodes and the tooth becomes loose. This is a very
painful process for your four-legged friend, but these problems can be averted
before they even start.
Dental Care at the Veterinary Practice
There are two
critical components of your pet’s veterinary dental care: oral examinations and
dental cleanings. Veterinary dental care begins at the puppy and kitten life
stage. AAHA recommends that veterinarians evaluate puppies and kittens for
problems related to the deciduous (baby) teeth, missing or extra teeth,
swellings and oral development. As your pet ages, your veterinarian will look
for developmental anomalies, the accumulation of plaque and tartar, periodontal
disease and oral tumors.
Veterinarians can
perform a basic oral examination on patients that are awake. However, a
short-lasting anesthetic is required in order to provide a complete and thorough
examination as well as dental cleanings.
The AAHA Dental Care
Guidelines recommend regular oral examinations and dental cleanings, under
general anesthesia, for all adult dogs and cats. AAHA recommends these
procedures at least annually starting at one year of age for cats and
small-breed dogs, and at two years of age for large-breed dogs.
The
guidelines further recommend the following:
Pre-anesthetic exam —
Whenever anesthesia is needed, special considerations are taken to help ensure
the safety of your pet. Your veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet to
make sure she’s healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. Depending on your pet’s
age and general physical condition, your veterinarian may also run blood, urine,
electrocardiograph, and x-ray tests to check for any dangerous heart, kidney, or
other conditions. Though there is some risk associated with any medical
procedure, modern anesthesia is usually safe, even for older pets.
Anesthesia monitoring — During anesthesia, the monitoring and
recording of your pet’s vital signs (such as body temperature, heart rate, and
respiration, as well as other important factors) is important. This helps ensure
the safety of your pet while undergoing anesthesia.
Dental radiographs — Radiographs (x-rays) of the teeth are
needed periodically in order to completely evaluate your pet’s oral health.
X-rays aid the veterinarian greatly in detecting abnormalities that cannot be
detected under examination alone. In some cases, x-rays can confirm the need for
extraction of teeth that are loose or badly infected.
Scaling & Polishing — Veterinarians are advised to use similar
instruments as human dentists to remove plaque and calculus from your pet’s
teeth. To smooth out any scratches in the tooth enamel, polishing with a special
paste is also recommended.
Fluoride/sealants — The application of an anti-plaque
substance, such as a fluoride treatment and/or a barrier sealant is also
advised. This can help strengthen and desensitize teeth as well as decrease
future plaque.
Home Dental Care
Your pet’s
dental care doesn’t rest with your veterinarian alone. As a pet owner, you play
a pivotal role in helping ensure your pet’s dental health through regular teeth
brushing
Brushing your pet's teeth |
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