Pet “Centsibility”—Brush Up on Dental
Care
This article by Lara Borgerson
is the fifth of a continuing series on how to save money with your
pets.
Dental disease is
unfortunately very common and painful condition of many dogs and
cats. But, overt disease can be prevented with an owner’s care and
dedication to the pet’s oral cavity; thus, promoting improved
overall health of the pet.
Signs of dental problems
can include any or all of the following: bad breath (halitosis):
changes in eating habits including dropping food while in the
process of eating, chewing on one side of the mouth or refusing to
eat at all; pawing at the teeth or lips; increased salivation
sometimes containing pus or blood; sneezing and nasal discharge; or
swelling of the lower jaw or upper jaw under the eye. Some animals
with dental pathology resist having their face petted or can exhibit
pain by hiding or vocalizing. Further visual inspection of the
diseased oral cavity may reveal red swollen gums (gingivitis) or
brownish-yellow concretions on the teeth (dental tartar or
calculus).
Your veterinarian will
help gauge the severity of the dental disease and suggest how best
to manage the problems via a dental examination. A dental cleaning
under sedation will help remove the tartar of the tooth’s crown and
improve the diseased gums by cleaning above the gum line. Any
helplessly diseased teeth may need to be extracted. The teeth are
polished after the cleaning to smooth micro abrasions left on the
crown after scaling to remove the calculus and prevent future
accumulation of plaque and tartar.
Home dental care is an
important part of the prevention of dental disease and a great way
to save money by reducing the number of necessary dental cleanings
and tooth extractions. Your cat of dog may allow routine tooth
brushing if a gradual approach is taken by the owner. First, start
with a wet gauze square or small piece of worn washcloth. Wrap the
“scrubber” around an index finger and brush the upper outside cheek
teeth (molars) for a few seconds for starters. Day by day, gradually
increase the amount of brushing time until the pet becomes
accustomed to the motion. With the pet’s acceptance of brushing,
gradually introduce a child’s tooth brush or finger brush as the
brushing appliance. Then, as the pet allows, add a pet friendly
toothpaste, preferably containing fluoride. Pet dentifrices are
especially designed to clean the pet’s teeth well, but not to overly
foam, thus preventing nausea in the pet. Human toothpaste is not
recommended.
Providing chew toys and
treats is also an excellent way to control dental disease. Many
veterinary and commercial products are available to promote a pet’s
dental health. Your vet may even suggest an oversized kibble of food
designed to scrub tooth surfaces while the pet chews as a treat or
as its normal diet. Extremely hard chew toys should be avoided to
prevent dental trauma and crown “slab” fractures of the large
premolar and molars. |
