What Can I Do to Prevent Periodontal Disease in my pet?
Periodontal disease is the most common disease found in our pets. It’s painful, expensive to treat, and has serious implications for your pet’s overall health. What is most encouraging is this simple fact: it’s entirely preventable!
There are numerous things you can do at home to help prevent periodontal disease in your pet. We all know that plaque continually forms on our pets’ teeth; there’s nothing we can do about that. What we can do is remove that plaque as often as possible to prevent it from forming calculus and starting the downward spiral that leads to periodontal disease. The most effective way to remove plaque from our pets’ teeth is the same as for our own teeth: brushing them as often as possible, preferably daily. There are a wide variety of tooth brushes for pets on the market today, most of which are very safe and effective. The key is to find one that is easy for you to use and well tolerated by your pet.
This is an example of a very safe, user friendly dental kit. As you can see, there is a tube of flavored toothpaste, a “regular” toothbrush, and a toothbrush that you can slide over your finger. While every pet and every pet owner will have their own preference, most of our clients report that the finger toothbrush is less of an irritant to the pet, and therefore easiest to use.
Before even reaching for the toothbrush, it’s a good idea to get your pet used to the notion of having something in their mouth first. This is easily done by simply rubbing your index finger along your pet’s teeth and gums. Once she has shown that she can handle this, go ahead and use the toothbrush with a pea-sized drop of toothpaste on it, rubbing the teeth and gums in small circular motions, just like when brushing your own teeth. Don’t worry about opening your pet’s mouth and attempting to brush the horizontal surfaces of the teeth; this often times results in an accidental bite. Most of the plaque is going to form on the side of the teeth facing the cheek (also known as the buccal surface). Spend about 30-45 seconds (or as long as your pet will let you) brushing all the teeth evenly. When you’re done, make sure to praise your pet and perhaps give him a treat. Pets respond very well to positive reinforcement! Below is a picture illustrating how to brush your pet’s teeth using a finger toothbrush.
As plaque forms on the teeth constantly, it is best to brush our pets’ teeth every day. That being said, most of us live in a world of demanding jobs, soccer practices, PTO meetings and other commitments, so it’s not always possible to brush those teeth every day. If you’re not able to brush your pet’s teeth every day, don’t give up on it. Brushing the teeth even two or three times a week will remove plaque and help cut down on the formation of tartar.
While brushing the teeth is by far the most effective way to remove plaque and prevent tartar formation, providing something for your pet to chew on can also be very helpful. At Mill Creek Animal Hospital, we recommend CET Chews. These chews combine an abrasive texture with an oral antiseptic called chlorhexidine to remove plaque and slow tartar buildup. They have a nice chicken flavor that dogs love, so they make a very nice treat. As you can see below, there are many different sizes of CET Chews, making it easy to find one that your dog will love.
Did you know that there is a pet food that can remove plaque and tartar from your pets’ teeth? It’s true! Hill’s Prescription Diet T/D has been shown to reduce plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth. T/D food is composed of a fiber matrix that, when chewed, does not crumble but rather scrapes the surface of the tooth, removing plaque. Feeding a diet like this is an easy way to keep the teeth clean; all you have to do is put it in the bowl! It has the same carbohydrate and protein content as regular adult maintenance pet food, so you can be sure that your pet will be getting all the nutrients it needs. As with any prescription diet, your veterinarian will help determine if T/D is the right food for your pet. At Mill Creek Animal Hospital, look for the bags of food pictured below.
What Role Does My Vet Play in Preventing Periodontal Disease?
Even though we brush our teeth twice a day, we still need to go to the dentist every six months for a cleaning. Our pets are no different. We recommend that the average pet have a dental cleaning under a light gas anesthesia once yearly. Every pet is different: some will need dental cleanings more often, others will need it less often. Your veterinarian will help make that determination by examining your pet’s teeth and gums at his yearly wellness evaluation.
A typical dental cleaning at Mill Creek Animal Hospital usually involves a daylong stay (though not overnight). We will usually ask that you withhold food from your pet the morning of the procedure (it’s always best to have anesthesia on an empty stomach), and drop her off early in the morning. This gives us plenty of time to do a thorough pre-anesthetic evaluation as well as a blood cell count and chemistry profile to ensure that your pet’s organs are functioning appropriately prior to anesthesia. About 30 minutes prior to the procedure, your pet is given preanesthetic medications to help him relax as well as any needed pain medication. At the time of the procedure your pet is gently and safely put under anesthesia, a breathing tube is placed, and anesthesia is maintained using a gas called Isoflurane (the safest veterinary anesthetic gas available). Now it’s time to clean those teeth!
First, all the teeth are examined closely by your veterinarian. Any abnormalities such as gum recession, loose teeth, or broken teeth are noted. If necessary, x-rays of the teeth may be taken and any problems addressed. Once this happens, a skilled veterinary technician cleans the teeth using an ultrasonic scaler to remove tartar both above and below the gum line. Cleaning under the gum line is important because this is where periodontal disease gets started. After every surface of the tooth has been cleaned with the scaler, the technician will then polish those surfaces. This is important for more reasons than just to provide sparkly teeth. Polishing the surface of the tooth smooths out the rough areas that result from everyday chewing, resulting in a surface to which bacteria cannot adhere. This reduces the formation of future plaque and tartar, making a dental cleaning important not just to get rid of tartar, but to keep it from coming back.
Here is a great picture showing just how much better your pet’s teeth will look
after a thorough dental cleaning. And just imagine how much better his breath
will smell too!
After the dental cleaning and polishing are done, the anesthetic gas is turned off. Once your pet is awake to show a swallowing reflex, the breathing tube is pulled and she is place in a cage where she can recover from anesthesia in peace and comfort. Most animals are awake and sitting up within 30 minutes of the procedure, and all go home the same day able to walk and interact with their families (though admittedly a little groggy).
Good dental periodontal health is essential for our pets. It is good not only for the mouth, but also the rest of the body. Unfortunately, periodontal disease causes pain, suffering, and even organ damage in a vast majority of pets. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be this way. Your friends at Mill Creek Animal Hospital are committed to helping you prevent periodontal disease in your best friend, providing a lifetime of smiles and puppy kisses!