Dog dental care Why do it?

As with humans, looking after teeth on a daily basis is important and preventing dental problems is much better than trying to cure them. It is estimated that 85% of dogs and cats over two years of age are suffering from some degree of dental disease.

Feeding an incorrect diet and not brushing a pet's teeth can cause build up of plaque. Plaque is a yellow/brown-coloured mixture of bits of food, saliva and bacteria that sticks to the teeth. If left, plaque can seriously damage the teeth as the bacteria in plaque produce chemicals that destroy the gum tissue. The bacteria can then invade the gums, and even the jaw bone, causing the teeth to fall out. Plaque also becomes mineralised to form tartar, which pushes back the gum margins that are essential for protection of the tooth roots. Without healthy teeth and gums a pet may not be able to chew food or eat a balanced diet and may well be in pain. This can also affect the general health of your pet. For example, bacterial infections of the mouth can also lead to problems with the heart and kidneys.

Dog and cat dental care.
There are specially designed foods, toys and chews that help keep the teeth clean, but brushing your pet's teeth regularly is helpful if your pet tolerates this. Bones are not recommended as they can damage the teeth or gums or become stuck in the gullet. Other ways you can help

The other way you can help is through your pet's diet. Coarse diets and dental hygiene chews can help but are not as effective as natural food. Owners should feed their pet an appropriate diet for the species, and avoid sugary treats. One effective and simple way to help keep cats' and dogs' and ferrets' teeth clean is to encourage them to chew large pieces of tough meat. Your vet will be able to advise you about this.

Tooth brushing for dogs and cats.
Special toothbrushes and toothpastes are available for dogs and cats. The best ones contain an antiseptic called chlorhexidine. Never use human toothpastes as dogs and cats dislike the flavour and the frothiness. Provided pets are introduced to the process gently, they tolerate it well whatever their age.

Start by getting your pet accustomed to having their mouth handled by gently touching their face and nose. Once they are happy with this, start getting them used to having their teeth brushed. Approach them from the side rather than the front and hold their mouth closed with one hand. Lift the lip on one side of their face. Cover your index finger with a plastic glove or fold a flannel over it and gently rub this finger over the outside of their teeth. You can also use a special 'finger brush', but these are not as good as a proper toothbrush.

Once your pet is happy with having their teeth touched, you can start tooth brushing for real. You have to press the toothbrush firmly into the 'pet toothpaste' to make sure the dog or cat cannot lick the toothpaste off the brush. Introduce the toothbrush into the pet's mouth. Start by brushing the outside surfaces of a few of the teeth and gradually increase the number that you clean. When your pet is relaxed with this, open their mouth by gently pulling the top jaw upwards. Carefully clean the top and inner surfaces of the teeth, again increasing the number of teeth cleaned as your pet gets used to the process.

After brushing, make sure you give a treat such as a game or savoury snack (not sweets!) so that your pet feels it's all been worthwhile.

It will take about 3 - 4 weeks for your pet to accept tooth brushing and it should be done once a day.
If your pet finds cleaning all the teeth too upsetting, it is better to carry on brushing the outer surface of the teeth rather than give up completely, as the tongue and saliva clean the inner tooth surfaces to some extent.

Dental care in small furry pets.
Some of the teeth of rabbits, guinea pigs and small rodents such as hamsters, gerbils and rats grow continuously. If the teeth don't meet properly because they have overgrown, this can cause serious problems. It is important to provide them with the correct food and, for some species, gnawing blocks that naturally wear their front teeth down. Again, your vet will be able to help you with this.
For example, a rabbit's diet is especially important in maintaining healthy teeth. Rabbits need a diet that offers chewing exercise, and food that needs crushing as rabbits teeth are designed for grinding. Rabbits fed exclusively on an incorrect diet will get wear abnormalities in their teeth. This is why their staple diet should be grass or hay, which provides the wear that their ever-growing cheek teeth need.

Overgrown teeth can cause difficulties in swallowing or can lead to the production of an excessive amount of saliva. The pet may refuse food, especially if it is hard, and generally find it difficult to eat. They will progressively lose weight. If left untreated these ever growing teeth can penetrate the opposite gums causing pain and abscesses.

Bored pets often damage their teeth through over eating the wrong types of food and/or chewing their cages. One cause of boredom is inadequate housing, which can also lead to insufficient sunlight which is needed to make the vitamin D necessary for healthy teeth and gums.
Any teeth that are not at the normal length will need attention by a vet, which can even involve a general anesthetic. The vet will also give advice on how to alter the affected pet's diet and housing in order to prevent future dental problems. However, it is hard to reverse any existing disease.

Signs of dental disease.
Signs that your pet is suffering from dental disease include bad breath, yellow/brown plaque covered teeth and red or bleeding gums.

There may also be pain or swelling of the jaw, food falling from the mouth, a lack of interest in food, weight loss, face rubbing, excessive salivation and difficulty in swallowing.

If you see any of these symptoms, you should make an appointment with your vet to get your pet's teeth checked. If the teeth need to be cleaned or removed, your pet will need a general anesthetic. This is because the cleaning process can not be done effectively while the pet is awake and removing teeth is painful. It is vital after any dental treatment that you make sure newly cleaned teeth are kept healthy and plaque is not allowed to build up again.

PDSA vets advise 'A regular teeth cleaning programme forms an essential part of a pet's overall health and well-being'

The PDSA produce a Dental Care leaflet which forms part of a larger range of Responsible Pet Care leaflets produced by PDSA. These leaflets cover a variety of pet care topics including, First Aid, Diet and Nutrition and Vaccinations. The leaflets are available from PDSA PetAid hospitals and charity shops nationwide. Further information can be obtained from ww.pdsa.org.uk

_{source Your Dog Mag.}