DENTAL DISEASES IN DOGS & CATS : TIPS FOR DENTAL HYGIENE
Dental disease or Periodontal disease is a term used to describe infection and associated inflammation of the periodontium (the tissues surrounding the tooth). Specifically, there are four tissues that make up the periodontium. They are the gingiva, the cementum (covering of the root surface), the periodontal ligament (the ligament attaching the tooth root to the bone) and the alveolar bone. Periodontal diseases begin with gingivitis and left untreated, the infection often spreads deeper into the tooth socket, destroying the bone. Ultimately, the tooth becomes loose and may fall out over time.
Dental disease is a very painful condition and is known to affect up to 95 percent of pets in the first three years of their life. Pets cannot tell you their pain, they rely on you to take care of them and however, most pet owners ignore the signs of pain because they don’t know what to look for. When unsure, please schedule annual checkups, so that the veterinarians can check for signs of dental disease and suggest the appropriate treatment. Regular yearly and or semiannual dental cleanings will prevent dental diseases. In cases where dental cleanings are not performed on a regular basis, the disease starts with dental calculus which progresses to become gingivitis and periodontal disease along with the decay of enamel and dentin resulting in cavities, tooth root abscess, and tooth loss. Dental procedures are also required to restore chipped and eroded teeth with exposed pulp cavities, often a direct result of chewing on bones, sticks, and pebbles.
Periodontal disease is the number one cause for teeth loss, often times the pets were brought in for teeth cleaning when the disease is progressed to an irreversible stage. Advanced stages of dental diseases may need dental X-rays, teeth extraction, pain medication, and antibiotics.
Did you know that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over three years of age have some form of dental disease? Dental disease can not only be painful and uncomfortable for pets, but the procedure to clean and remove teeth becomes more complicated and often more costly to treat the longer it is left untreated. Just as you look after your teeth to prevent plaque and dental disease, you must also care for your pet’s teeth too!
What is dental disease?
Dental disease or periodontal disease is caused by bacterial infection that builds up in a substance called plaque. Plaque is made up of food particles and saliva. It sticks to the tooth surface above and below the gum line and if not removed will calcify into tartar. Over time the infection in tartar causes irreversible changes to occur which include the destruction of supportive tissues and bone, resulting in sore red gums, bad breath, and the loosening of teeth.
Types of Dental Disease in Dogs
There are several types of dental disease in dogs that pet parents should be aware of. These include:
Periodontal disease: Periodontal disease refers to infection, inflammation, and breakdown of the structures that support teeth and hold them in place. This leads to pain and tooth loss.
Trauma: Dogs may damage their teeth by chewing on very hard objects or playing vigorously with toys. They may also suffer from dental trauma if they are in a dog fight or hit by a car.
Tooth root infections: Bacteria that finds its way under the gums may form a pocket of infection around the tooth root. As this pocket expands it becomes a very painful abscess.
Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums is known as gingivitis. When severe, it may be called stomatitis or ulcerative stomatitis. Boxers are known to develop gingival hyperplasia which is a benign overgrowth of the gums.
Growths: Many types of abnormal tissue can grow in the mouth. These include both benign tissues and cancers. Papilloma warts are small viral growths that resolve on their own. Melanoma is one of the more common types of oral cancer and is a very aggressive, severe disease.
What are symptoms of periodontal disease in dogs?
Symptoms of canine periodontitis include:
- Discolored teeth (brown or yellow)
- Bad breath
- Inflamed or bleeding gums
- Loose or missing teeth
- Excessive drooling
- Blood on chew toys or in water bowl
- Favoring one side of the mouth when chewing
- Irritability
- Weight loss
- Reduced appetite
- Problems keeping food in mouth
- “Ropey” or bloody saliva
In the advanced stages of gum diseases, your pup may be in significant chronic pain, which our pets hide out of instinct to avoid showing signs of weakness to predators.
The effects of periodontal disease don’t remain confined to your dog’s mouth – they can also lead to problems with major organs and cause heart disease when bacteria from the mouth enter the bloodstream, then attach to arteries surrounding the heart.
Dog Dental Disease Stages
There are four stages of periodontal disease. The stages refer only to periodontal disease. Other dental diseases, such as those caused by trauma, are not progressive so are not staged.
Stage 1: At this stage there is minimal tartar buildup. The gums may be slightly swollen and will likely bleed if brushed or if the dog chews on a rough toy. Dental disease in dogs at this stage is easily reversed with routine cleaning by a veterinarian or daily brushing at home.
Stage 2: By stage two there may not be obvious visual signs of worsening periodontal disease but under the gum line the structures around the teeth are starting to become damaged by bacteria and inflammation. Stage 2 is diagnosed during an anesthetized exam that your veterinarian performs as part of your dog’s teeth cleaning. There may be some loss of the bone that holds teeth in place (alveolar bone). Addressing dental disease at this stage can reverse damage and save your dog’s teeth.
Stage 3: Once periodontal disease reaches Stage 3 there is permanent bone loss leading to loose, painful teeth. Most often, your veterinarian will recommend extraction of teeth with this stage because of this pain. However, it is possible to save these teeth with advanced dental procedures. Typically these procedures are performed by a veterinary dental specialist.
Stage 4: By Stage 4 of periodontal disease in dogs the teeth cannot be saved. It is in these dogs’ best interest to have most teeth extracted to address their pain and reduce the risk of future infection. Teeth may fall out on their own at this stage, putting the dog at risk for severe dental infection.
Other types of dental disease are graded for severity on different characteristics. For example, tooth fractures are simple if they do not reach the gum line while fractures are termed “complicated” if they reach below the gum line because of increased risk of infection.
Feeding the right diet
What you feed your dog can directly affect its oral health. Not only is homemade food nutritionally inadequate, it is also not the best for your dog’s teeth. The soft texture of some homemade foods does not allow for plaque removal or massaging of the gums. Usually, some sort of crunch is necessary to remove the plaque near the tops of a dog’s teeth. Dry kibble like Pedigree dog food is nutritionally balanced and can also clean your dog’s teeth to keep bad breath at bay.
Chew treats
Another effective way to control plaque and tartar build-up is with dog chew sticks or chewy dog treats that are specifically formulated for dog dental care. For daily oral care for your dog, a good example is Pedigree Dentastix. Pedigree Dentastix is an X-shaped dog treat that is specially designed with a gently abrasive texture to clean teeth that are hard to reach and support gum health. It is also scientifically proven to help reduce the build-up of tartar by 80%. To make treating and cleaning teeth a regular habit, Pedigree Dentastix now also comes in a pack of 3 sticks. Dentastix must be fed every day for prevention of plaque or tartar
Chew toys
There are various toys on the market that are designed specifically for dog dental care. Toys like dental chew bones, molar cleaning sticks and toothbrush sticks are a great way to keep your pooch’s teeth clean and mind engaged at the same time. Consult your vet for a right product
The dental cleaning procedure:
The pet should not be fed after evening meal on the day before surgery to reduce the risk of vomiting and aspiration (inhaling vomit into lungs) pneumonia during anesthesia.
Most veterinarians insist that pre-anesthetic blood work be performed to make sure the pet is capable of metabolizing and removing the anesthetic drugs from the body.
Once the blood work looks good we induce anesthesia, the pets are intubated (place an endotracheal tube) to prevent bacteria-rich dental washings from entering into lungs and to prevent aspiration pneumonia.
The teeth are then scraped to clean the tartar and calculus using an ultrasonic scaler. Normal dental scalars move to and fro like a hummingbird beak, these scalars when placed incorrectly causes enamel damage, and care should be taken to use these scalers in a side to side fashion.
Veterinarians may find more lesions and advanced dental disease once the pet is under anesthesia, this thorough checking is not often possible in a fully awake pet. Staff may call you with options for dental x-rays and extractions depending on the extent of dental disease. Please provide a reachable phone number, it is not possible to maintain the pet for a long time under anesthesia while waiting for your approval. If you could not be reached on your phone, you may have to re-do the anesthesia procedure just for x-rays and or extractions.
After the teeth are cleaned they are polished using a low-speed drill and then teeth are washed with an antiseptic rinse.Once the procedure is complete, pets wake up within minutes and are sent home the same day.
How do you treat dental disease?
Treating dental disease involves thorough scaling and flushing to remove tartar, plaque and infection from above and below the gum line. The teeth are then polished to help reduce future plaque build-up. Any loose or badly infected teeth will need to be removed. These procedures are carried out under a general anaesthetic for the safety of your pet and our team. Local anaesthetic and pain relief are given as necessary.
How Do You Prevent Dental Disease in Pets?
Good oral hygiene and plaque control will help prevent dental disease. Dental disease is caused by plaque build-up & infection. If you help to remove the plaque from your pet’s teeth, you greatly improve the chances of a healthy mouth.
- A dental check – A thorough dental examination of your pet’s mouth from our expert team will give you the best indication if your pet has dental disease and what the next step is.
- Brushing your pet’s teeth– Physically removing the plaque from your pet’s teeth with daily brushing is the gold standard for dental care and will give your pet the best chance of preventing advanced dental disease.
- Appropriate food– Using a special veterinary recommended dental diet will help reduce the amount of plaque build-up on your pet’s teeth. The unique shape and size of these biscuits encourages chewing and has a brushing effect on the teeth.
- Dental chews– Encouraging your pet to chew on appropriate toys and chews will help stimulate saliva secretion, which will help combat plaque. Safe chewing options such as Greenies, Whimzees and Dentabones encourage your pets to chew, which helps rub plaque off, and spread protective saliva around teeth.
- Dental treatment– For adult cats and dogs with existing dental disease, a dental treatment with a scale and polish under general anaesthetic is often necessary to get their mouth back into top condition. At home prevention will then be required to hopefully prevent, or slow down dental disease developing again in the future.
- Dental products– Water additives such as Healthy Mouth and Plaque off can soften plaque, making it easier to be removed, and will also decrease the amount of bacteria in your pet’s mouth.
Brushing your Dog’s Teeth
First things first, you need to gather up the essentials – toothbrush, and toothpaste. You can find these at your local pet supply store – make sure you purchase a toothpaste made specially for canine. You may think “well what’s in toothpaste?” but human toothpaste actually contains some ingredients that are toxic to pets.
Once you have these supplies, it’s time to brush their teeth. It’s recommended that you brush your pet’s teeth 2 -3 three times a week in addition to an annual dental checkup.
If you’re new to brushing your dog’s teeth, start slowly over the course of a few days. and work your way up to brushing his teeth.
Day 1:
Start by pulling back your dog’s mouth and touching his teeth/gums with your finger, just so your dog can get used to this sensation. The goal here is to get your dog used to you touching around his mouth so don’t rush the process.
Day 2:
Repeat steps from Day 1 while adding another element: squirt a bit of toothpaste on your fingers and let your dog lick it.
Day 3:
Then, combine steps 1 and 2 – squirt some toothpaste on your fingers and start rubbing them gently – in a circular motion – to clean your dog’s teeth and make sure you get his gums!
Day 4:
It’s now time to introduce his toothbrush. You want to make sure that your dog doesn’t see this as a toy to chew on. So carefully and slowly, have the toothbrush touch his teeth and gums.
Day 5:
Your dog should be used to you touching his teeth, and the sensation of the toothpaste and toothbrush by now. Combine steps 2 and 3 – add some toothpaste on the toothbrush, and gently start going over his teeth and gums. Do this 2-3 times a week to keep the plaque away.
Throughout the process, make sure you add some positive reinforcement. Every day, reward your dog with healthy treats if you were able to complete your goal and if he/she remains calm until you’re finished. Dogs’ brains register something as “positive” when he/she is rewarded – so the more you reward – by positive affirmations or treats – the more your dog will let you repeat this behavior.
Tips for Ensuring Excellent Dental Health
Regularly check your dog’s teeth: When we, as humans, develop any sort of disease, we feel and show pain. Dogs, however, are known to not show any signs of pain, no matter how much chronic pain they are in. As pack animals who once habited the wild, they have been predisposed to hiding pain – as they see it as a vulnerability and weakness.
So waiting around for your dog to start whining or showing “signs” is not going to be beneficial. There are other ways, however, to ensure that your dog’s dental hygiene is excellent.
Check your dog’s breath: Smell your dog’s breath. Now, your dog’s breath is never going to smell minty fresh – and that’s okay, it’s normal! However, if you notice that your dog’s breath is especially foul and he/she seems to be experiencing a loss of appetite, vomiting or excessive drinking/urinating, it’s probably a good time to take your doggo to the vet and have him/her checked for any diseases.
Check his gums and teeth: When you’re brushing your dog’s teeth, or even once a week, do a routine check of his gums and teeth to make sure there are no signs of swelling, bleeding or discoloration – your pooch’s gums should be pink, not white, red or brownish.
Signs to Look For: When doing routine checkup at home, it’s important that you know what you’re looking for to understand and determine if your dog is indeed developing some sort of disease or in pain. Because at the end of the day, the earlier you catch it, the sooner you can treat it, and the better your pooch will feel.
Here are a list of things to pay attention to at-home to determine if he/she might be experiencing any oral health issue:
- Look for discolored teeth and gums. If you notice any brownish/yellowish color on the teeth, it’s probably tartar (calculus) caused by plaque buildup.
- Smell your dog’s breath for any foul odor. If this odor persists even after regular cleaning, it’s time to take your pooch to the vet.
- Look for any signs of bleeding. Notice if there are any blood spots in his water bowl, or any signs of reddish color on his gums/teeth when you examine him/her.
- Pay attention to your pup when he/she is playing with a chew toy. Does he/she whine or cry when playing or biting a chew toy?
- Check for any signs of lumps, swelling or bumps inside your dog’s mouth.
- Pay attention to your dog’s appetite. Does your dog suddenly seem uninterested in his food?
- Notice if your dog seems resistant towards toothbrushing or you touching his mouth, gums or teeth. If your dog normally lets you touch these areas without any trouble, chances are your touch is causing an unpleasant sensation or discomfort – hinting towards possible oral disease.
- Check for signs for loose teeth or even missing teeth. While it is normal for puppies to lose their teeth, you need to be extra careful to note these changes in your young or adult dog with mature teeth.
If you notice any of these signs when examining your dog, or spending time with your pooch, immediately take him to the vet as your little one might need urgent care.
Compiled & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)
Image-Courtesy-Google
Reference-On Request.
