Dog's Diseases

Dental

Dental problems in our cats and dogs are very common with some estimates being as high as 85% of dogs and cats over four years of age being effected. The problem begins when plaque starts to form on teeth. This can be as early as two days after dental cleaning. Plaque is a clear liquid consisting of several components including bacteria. Mineral salts in the food can precipitate if the plaque is not removed resulting in the formation of calculus. The calculus irritates the gingiva and allows bacteria to survive below the gingival margin. These bacteria produce substances which destroy the tooth's soft tissue and bone support causing the tooth to loosen and finally to fall out.

There are several ways of managing dental problems in pets. Daily brushing with a veterinary tooth paste and an appropriate sized brush is one of the most effective. It is important not to use human toothpaste as it contains fluoride which when swallowed by your pet can lead to fluoride poisoning. The brush should be the appropriate size to enable effective and comfortable cleaning with a minimum of discomfort. Feeding of special dental diets can help with the management of the problem. The feeding of bones to dogs has been advocated in the literature but it is important to start feeding bones to dogs when they are young so that they learn how to chew them. It must be remembered that a dog's jaw is very powerful and when a large breed dog bites down on a bone with maximum force the teeth are likely to fracture and may have to be removed.

Your pet's teeth should be regularly checked by your veterinarian. Bad breath should alert the owners of both dogs and cats that a problem in the mouth may exist and veterinary help should be sought. Dogs and particularly cats which appear painful around the mouth, a drooling or have reduced appetite should be taken to see their veterinarian as soon as possible. A thorough examination needs to be performed which often requires an anaesthetic. Dental radiographs are often required to determine the health of the roots of the teeth which obviously cannot be seen by eye. Even though you may wish for your pet to keep all of his/her teeth it should be remembered that cats and dogs suffer from 'tooth aches' just like we do and in some cases your pets may be in a severe amount of pain and extractions of the effected teeth will make them much happier.