04/08/2021
Every year during August, the Australian Veterinary Association runs an initiative known as “Pet Dental Health Month”. This is because dental disease is the most common disease seen in dogs and cats. It’s more common than any other disease including those of the skin, eyes, ears, or heart. According to the Australian Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats develop gum disease by the age of three years old, which is generally progressive and becomes more severe with age. What starts out as gum disease can also lead to more serious problems like infection, abscessation and fractured jaws as the disease becomes more advanced, as well as causing secondary issues related to the heart, liver, and kidney. This is because plaque and tartar contain a multitude of bacteria and toxins which not only cause local disease but can also spread to other parts of the body.
It’s important to check your pet’s mouth regularly as animals often won’t show any overt signs of pain. Even pets with sore gums, infected mouths and broken teeth will continue to eat despite the discomfort associated with the disease. In most cases, they will continue to eat “normally” and don’t go off their food until the pain becomes unbearable. Signs to look for include bad breath, red or inflamed gums and stained teeth. Your pet may also start dropping food when they’re eating or avoid “hard” food like biscuits over canned food which requires less chewing. Your vet will check your pet’s teeth and oral health at their annual checkup, and this is another reason why these regular checks are so important.
Strategies to reduce plaque and tartar build-up in dogs and cats include regular tooth brushing, offering dental chews, various mouthwashes, and gels, and feeding pet food which has both a mechanical and enzymatic action to reduce plaque and tartar from forming, while still providing a fully balanced and nutritional diet. Raw bones are also a popular treat to use for dental care, but there are some risks associated with these as they are sometimes implicated in causing gut obstructions or broken teeth requiring surgery to fix. Tooth brushing is safer and more effective than chewing or mouthwashes but is significantly more labour intensive and needs to be done daily to have the most benefit. Many dogs and cats can be trained to enjoy having their teeth brushed, especially if started when they are young. It is important to use a pet-safe toothpaste because human toothpaste contains fluoride at levels that are too high for pets to use safely because they swallow it and don’t “spit” it out. Your vet has “delicious” toothpaste for pets available in chicken flavour, as well as toothbrushes that fit over your finger to make the process easier. They can also give you pointers in how to go about the process to help get you and your pet started.
Tooth brushing, chews and mouthwashes are all useful strategies to reduce dental disease in pets, but definitive treatment of dental disease requires general anaesthesia and equipment that is the equivalent to that found in human dental clinics. Your pet will need to have a full clinical examination with your vet prior to undergoing an anaesthetic, and sometimes further tests such as blood testing to rule out other health problems such as liver or kidney disease that can be related to dental disease will also be recommended. The photo above is one of our gorgeous patients, Hunee, who can be seen here recovering from her dental procedure. She is our first dental month patient this year.
During dental month, the nurses at Glenelg Veterinary Services are offering free oral health checks for your pet and can provide further advice regarding keeping your best friend happy and healthy. Give the clinic a call to book a time for this at your convenience.
