Dental Care for Dogs and Cats

Imagine what would happen if you didn’t take care of your teeth regularly.

The same basics of dental care also apply to your pets teeth.Dental health

in pets is of critical importance and deserves regular attention. A thorough

dental cleaning by your veterinarian will remove dental plaque and tartar,

polish rough surfaces of the teeth (so plaque doesn’t build up so easy) and

stops the pain and awful smell. Annual dental cleaning is due for most pets

to keep them healthy.

The Problem:

Periodontal disease is a serous condition that can impact the general

well-being of your pet’s body as a whole. Gum disease (periodontal disease)

is the most common disease in dogs and cats! About 85% of dogs and cats

have some form of it and are vulnerable to pain, bad breath and tooth loss.

The Cause:    

Plaque combines with the bacteria (germs) in the mouth to form tartar

(calculus).  At this point, not only does your pet’s breath smell foul, the

tartar is causing irritation to the gums, pain and bleeding. Endotoxins from

the bacteria then enter the blood stream and travel to the heart, liver and

kidneys. And that’s how periodontal disease starts to affect your whole

pet’s body. When the bacteria and endotoxins enter the blood stream, they

cause infection or inflammation of the other organs in the internal body,

most particularly the heart valves (endocarditis), kidney (nephritis), or

liver (hepatitis).

The Prevention: Brushing your pet’s teeth is considered the “gold

standard” of at-home dental care and it works! Even when done only

weekly we can see the difference. There are other less cumbersome ways

to help control dental plaque including diet, chlorhexidine impregnated

dental chews and rinses and professional products such as OraVet Plaque

Prevention Gel that puts a sealant on the tooth surface so that plaque can

not “stick” as well.