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A client asked me just the other day …’what is pet dental health month?’

“Great question!” I answered as I proceeded to educate him on the importance of oral health in our pets. Here is a summary of what I told him…

Do you brush your teeth? Floss? Do you make regular trips to the dentist? Imagine what your teeth and gums would be like – and your breath – if you did not brush, floss or even have you’re your teeth cleaned, let alone be examined by a Dentist?

Dental disease ~ tartar, broken teeth, infected gums and other mouth issues ~ are common findings in pets of all ages, and especially of pets over the age of three. Click here for more information on dental disease in Cats and Dogs.

National Pet Dental Health Month is a veterinary health industry initiative intended to draw awareness and attention to the importance of regular dental and oral health care for dogs and cats.

Most pet dental disease is not immediately obvious. One common sign that pets need an oral-dental checkup is their breath. ‘Bad breath’ in pets is not normal, not healthy and is reason enough to initiate a call to your veterinarian to have your pet thoroughly examined…from nose to tail…including the mouth and teeth.

At home dental care is not that difficult and offers many benefits for both the pet and the pet’s people family. Daily brushing can be performed with a little practice and most dogs and cats readily accept this activity into their routine. It only needs to take a minute…60 seconds. For more information on brushing teeth in dogs visit our information library.

Here is a link to a short video on tooth brushing and your dog: Video Demonstration

Dental treats, chews, and dental friendly toys can help reduce and control plaque buildup on teeth. Check with the Veterinary Oral Health Council for a list of tested and approved dental products by going to www.vohc.org.

Be careful with bones, rocks, sticks and other hard objects that can break or chip teeth. This is the second most common dental health issue seen in dogs and it can be very painful and troubling for you and your pet.

Many dental health issues are breed related. Yes, some breeds have more tooth and gum disease then others. Don’t over look oral health concerns if you are considering a new puppy or kitten. Cats are certainly not immune from dental health disease and, as with dogs, benefit from regular dental oral health care.

Is feeding a dry food enough to protect my dog or cat from dental disease? NO. In general there is no difference between dry and canned or wet foods when it comes to dental health. There are, however, several specialty dental foods that have been manufactured to improve tooth and gum health. One such food is manufactured by Hill’s Pet Foods and goes by the easy to remember name of ‘TD’ (Tooth Diet). Though TD is a very good food made for a specific purpose not even this diet can take the place of regular brushing and veterinary directed dental cleanings.

Dental cleanings are a necessary component of your pet’s dental health. The procedure for cleaning your pet’s teeth is very similar to what your dentist and hygienist use when you have your teeth cleaned. The mouth is thoroughly examined and perhaps even x-rays are taken. The teeth are mechanically scaled and polished. Veterinary inspection and manual cleaning beneath the gum line where 60% of the tartar and disease exist is an essential part of every cleaning.

Anesthesia and the need to have pets safely asleep during this 30-45 minute procedure is essential and the critical difference between human and veterinary dentistry. With the majority of the disease below the gum line, just chipping the tartar off, does little more then expose the level of disease. A dental cleaning that is therapeutically beneficial, thorough, and pain free requires anesthesia. Trained veterinary assistants, and anesthesia technicians monitor every patient throughout the procedure. Even with anesthesia, modern protocols and medication permit most pets to return home the same day after a trip to the veterinary dentist with clean healthy teeth and breath that the whole family can agree was worth it.

Take advantage of your pet’s annual or twice yearly veterinary examination to ask your veterinarian and his/her veterinary care team about the oral and dental health of your pet. If you feel that your dog or cat may have a tooth or gum condition or the breath is just not acceptable any longer, take the time during ‘Pet Dental Health Month’ to have a veterinarian examine the mouth. Many veterinarians offer discounted or no cost brief oral exams during the month of February.

Summary of Links and References:

Dental disease in cats: http://pvvc.net/pet-health-resources/pet-health-articles/articles/?rid=83

Dental disease in dogs: http://pvvc.net/pet-health-resources/pet-health-articles/articles/?rid=742

Tooth brushing video demonstration: http://pvvc.net/videos/brushing-your-dogs-teeth/

Veterinary Oral Health Council: http://vohc.org/

Thank You for visiting the Wellsboro Home Page.
If you have questions or comments on this episode of ‘Creature Care’ just email me at creaturecare@pvvc.net.