Nibbles and Bits — February 2010

Did you know...

• The odor coming from your pet’s mouth may be a sign of dental disease?
• Ignoring your pet’s dirty teeth may lead to tooth loss or even heart, liver, and kidney disease.
• 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of oral disease by the age of three.
• Diagnosis, treatment, and regular preventative care can help improve the quality and longevity of your pet’s life.

Warning Signs of Oral Disease

• Bad breath (Halitosis)
• Difficulty chewing food
• Abnormal drooling
• Pawing at the face or mouth
• Bleeding gums

Before and after photos of a pet dental procedure

If any of these signs are present, you should contact our office for an examination. Ignoring these signs will put your pet’s health at risk. Dental disease can eventually cause internal organ damage and disease.

My pet needs a dentistry, now what?
If you and your veterinarian decide your pet needs a dentistry, he/she will be scheduled to stay with us for the day. A blood test will be done before the procedure. This is to ensure that the liver and kidneys are functioning properly. If the results are not normal, we will contact you to discuss the abnormalities. If no problems are detected, we will proceed with the dentistry.

What happens during the dentistry?
In order to do a proper dentistry on your pet, we will put him/her under anesthesia. A typical dental procedure will last approximately one hour. During this time, we will monitor your pet’s vital signs closely to ensure his/her safety. Your pet will have his teeth, gums and inside of his/her mouth completely examined to look for any abnormalities. Plaque and tartar will be removed by hand and by an ultrasonic scaling technique. If any teeth are loose or diseased, they may need to be extracted. This will be done at the time of the dentistry. Once the teeth are clean they will be polished to smooth the surfaces and to slow plaque accumulation. A waxy sealant called OraVet, will be applied to your pet’s teeth. This acts as a protective barrier to slow the buildup of plaque and tartar. A kit is available for you to use at home. You simply apply the sealant once a week to give added protection between cleanings.

X-rays, Extractions, Root Canals
X-rays are an important part of your pet’s dental procedure. They can help determine if there are any underlying problems we can’t see. They may help determine if an extraction is necessary. An extraction may be done if a tooth has become loose, infected or diseased. Although we do not currently do root canals at our office, they are an option. If interested, please let the Doctor know and they can discuss this with you at your pet’s exam.

Home Care
There are several ways you can help control dental disease at home.

Brushing your pet's teeth is a good way to help prevent or slow dental disease. We can show you how and can provide you with a toothbrush and specially formulated toothpaste for your pet.

Diet can play an important role in the health of your pet's teeth. Many commercial treats are available to help control plaque and tartar buildup. T/D by Hills is one example of these treats that we have available. This specially designed treat helps break away tartar as your pet chews.

OraVet Gel sealant is applied to your pet's teeth during his/her dentistry. This will seal the surfaces of the teeth, reducing buildup of plaque, especially along the gum line. OraVet also makes a kit for you to apply weekly at home. Home application of OraVet takes less than a minute a week and will give lasting protection. The OraVet kit is available at our office.

As always, if you have any questions, please call to speak with our staff. We will be happy to answer any questions and explain any procedure for your pet.

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