By Dr. Lauren Bowling
What you don’t know about your pet’s mouth CAN hurt them. Dental disease is the most diagnosed condition in dogs
and the second most diagnosed condition in cats. It is also known as periodontitis, which means an inflammation or
infection of the periodontal tissues surrounding the teeth, including ligaments, gums, and bones. The most common
sign that a pet owner will notice first is very bad breath.
The bad breath indicates bacteria that is below the gum line and has hardened
into a cement-like substance called tartar on the tooth surface. This looks like a
hard yellow, brown, black, or green substance covering the tooth enamel.
Sometimes the gums will be a pink or red color, indicating that they are inflamed.
At this point, when the initial signs are seen, is the best chance we have of
cleaning the teeth and preventing further disease. If the teeth are cleaned
above and below the gum line and proper home care instituted, this can go a
long way toward preventing advancement of periodontal disease. If it is left
unchecked, the infection under the gums can eat away at the ligaments and
bones, leading to painful, infected teeth that may need to be removed. In the
worst case, the bacteria can enter the blood stream though the gum tissue,
which has a very good blood supply, and travel to other organs such as the
heart, kidneys, liver, and pancreas.
The good thing about this disease is that it is totally preventable. By working with your veterinarian, learning how to
care for your pet’s teeth at home, and regular evaluations with cleanings, your pet’s teeth can last their entire life.
Ideally, pets should have their teeth cleaned at home every day and have a professional cleaning as needed.
Depending on the pet and its teeth, a professional cleaning may be needed every six month, year or a little longer. This
is why yearly and twice yearly exams with a veterinarian are so important.
Why having your pet’s teeth cleaned properly is so important
What separates a veterinary cleaning and examination of your pet’s teeth from a
lay person doing it, is thoroughness. Your veterinarian will painstakingly examine
each tooth, make sure there are no severe infections below the gum line, clean
both above and below the gum line, polish your pet’s teeth to reduce more tartar
build up, and apply fluoride. All of these steps constitute a complete dental exam
and treatment and ensure that the bacteria and debris is completely cleaned
from your pets’ mouth. This procedure is done under general anesthesia since
pets will not allow us to probe and examine their teeth while awake.
Most lay people will chip the tartar off the pets’ tooth, which will remove the
unsightly debris from view, but it will not help bad breath and it will not slow down
the progression of periodontal disease. By just taking off what is visible and
ignoring what is below the gums, all that is done is a cosmetic procedure. The
bacteria below the gums will still rampage unchecked, destroying ligaments, bones, and possibly spreading to other
organs of the body.
So if you wonder why a “dental cleaning” costs so much less at the groomer’s or the pet store, now you know why.
Check out our video on the basics of Brushing Cat and Dog Teeth.
See Also: Dog and Cat Dental Facts
The Veterinary Oral Health Council has awarded several foods and pet treats its Seal of Acceptance after proving the
products help prevent tartar and plaque buildup. Find the list at http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products.htm
Dr. Lauren Bowling owns and operates Bloomington Cat Hospital and Happy Tails Mobile Vet Services with her
husband, Dr. Elad Stotland. Both are graduates of Texas A&M University. They share their office with cats Deek
and Scout. They share their home with Seamus, a great dane; George, a chihuahua; and cats Charlie and Meg.
What you don’t know about your pet’s mouth CAN hurt them. Dental disease is the most diagnosed condition in dogs
and the second most diagnosed condition in cats. It is also known as periodontitis, which means an inflammation or
infection of the periodontal tissues surrounding the teeth, including ligaments, gums, and bones. The most common
sign that a pet owner will notice first is very bad breath.
The bad breath indicates bacteria that is below the gum line and has hardened
into a cement-like substance called tartar on the tooth surface. This looks like a
hard yellow, brown, black, or green substance covering the tooth enamel.
Sometimes the gums will be a pink or red color, indicating that they are inflamed.
At this point, when the initial signs are seen, is the best chance we have of
cleaning the teeth and preventing further disease. If the teeth are cleaned
above and below the gum line and proper home care instituted, this can go a
long way toward preventing advancement of periodontal disease. If it is left
unchecked, the infection under the gums can eat away at the ligaments and
bones, leading to painful, infected teeth that may need to be removed. In the
worst case, the bacteria can enter the blood stream though the gum tissue,
which has a very good blood supply, and travel to other organs such as the
heart, kidneys, liver, and pancreas.
The good thing about this disease is that it is totally preventable. By working with your veterinarian, learning how to
care for your pet’s teeth at home, and regular evaluations with cleanings, your pet’s teeth can last their entire life.
Ideally, pets should have their teeth cleaned at home every day and have a professional cleaning as needed.
Depending on the pet and its teeth, a professional cleaning may be needed every six month, year or a little longer. This
is why yearly and twice yearly exams with a veterinarian are so important.
Why having your pet’s teeth cleaned properly is so important
What separates a veterinary cleaning and examination of your pet’s teeth from a
lay person doing it, is thoroughness. Your veterinarian will painstakingly examine
each tooth, make sure there are no severe infections below the gum line, clean
both above and below the gum line, polish your pet’s teeth to reduce more tartar
build up, and apply fluoride. All of these steps constitute a complete dental exam
and treatment and ensure that the bacteria and debris is completely cleaned
from your pets’ mouth. This procedure is done under general anesthesia since
pets will not allow us to probe and examine their teeth while awake.
Most lay people will chip the tartar off the pets’ tooth, which will remove the
unsightly debris from view, but it will not help bad breath and it will not slow down
the progression of periodontal disease. By just taking off what is visible and
ignoring what is below the gums, all that is done is a cosmetic procedure. The
bacteria below the gums will still rampage unchecked, destroying ligaments, bones, and possibly spreading to other
organs of the body.
So if you wonder why a “dental cleaning” costs so much less at the groomer’s or the pet store, now you know why.
Check out our video on the basics of Brushing Cat and Dog Teeth.
See Also: Dog and Cat Dental Facts
The Veterinary Oral Health Council has awarded several foods and pet treats its Seal of Acceptance after proving the
products help prevent tartar and plaque buildup. Find the list at http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products.htm
Dr. Lauren Bowling owns and operates Bloomington Cat Hospital and Happy Tails Mobile Vet Services with her
husband, Dr. Elad Stotland. Both are graduates of Texas A&M University. They share their office with cats Deek
and Scout. They share their home with Seamus, a great dane; George, a chihuahua; and cats Charlie and Meg.
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Dental disease in dogs and cats easily preventable
| percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS). Periodontal disease is a common problem in smaller breeds. About 28 percent of domestic cats develop at least one painful resorptive lesion during their lifetime. The first step in preventing oral disease is a routine physical examination including a dental exam. Pet owners should brush their pet´s teeth with specially formulated toothpaste. Toothpaste for humans is not recommended because it may upset the pet´s stomach |
