Pet Health Library - Marin Pet Hospital, San Rafael, CA » Feline Dental

How to Brush Your Pet’s Teeth

MarinPet — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:19:03 +0000

In honor of National Veterinary Dental Month, we put together this short informational video to help you brush your pet’s teeth. This is a great preventative measure that we recommend to all of our patients!

How to Brush Your Pet’s Teeth

admin — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 21:17:54 +0000

We advocate brushing of the teeth once a day to prevent or minimize the need for routine dental care. Therefore, we are often asked the best way to go about brushing the teeth. First of all, getting Fido to agree to the inital tooth brushings may require a bit of patience. However, typically once he finds out that the pet toothpaste being used is chicken flavored he will come around. Secondly, make sure that the toothbrush used is nice and soft. Pet gums are not as used to the abrasiveness of a toothbrush as human gums and should be dealth with gently. All this said, toothbrushing is not tolerated by all dogs and cats, but it is worth one’s effort to try.

Please find a link below to a nice You Tube video which gives a good video tutorial on brushing a pet’s teeth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUSzpFJhdMo

Veterinary Q & A: Dental Care for Pets

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:34:18 +0000

Veterinary Q & A: Dental Care For Pets

What you need to know about your pet’s dental health

By Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, About.com Guide

Open up and say Ahhhh!

Companion piece to: The Importance of Dental Care for Pets .

Healthy Mouth = Healthier Life
Each year, February is designated as Pet Dental Health month. Various organizations, such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Veterinary Dental Society, and Hill’s Pet Food promote pet dental health awareness campaigns. February isn’t the only time to think about good oral health though. Keeping your pet’s teeth and gums in good shape has many health benefits in addition to the sparkling fresh breath. Now is the time to schedule that checkup for your pet to ensure the best dental health possible.

My pet has bad breath. Are bad teeth and gums the cause?
Most likely, YES. However, it is very important to schedule a visit to the veterinarian. In rare cases, some diseases or situations can cause bad breath in the absence of, or in addition to, tooth/gum disease. Conditions such as kidney failure, diabetes, nasal or facial skin infections, cancers, or situations where the animal is ingesting feces or other materials, can cause bad breath with or without periodontal disease.

What actually causes the bad breath when tooth/gum disease is present?
Bad breath, medically known as “halitosis”, results from the bacterial infection of the gums (gingiva) and supporting tissues seen with periodontal disease (periodontal = occurring around a tooth).

What is the difference between plaque and tartar?
Plaque is a colony of bacteria, mixed with saliva, blood cell, and other bacterial components. Plaque often leads to tooth and gum disease. Dental tartar, or calculus, occurs when plaque becomes mineralized (hard) and firmly adheres to the tooth enamel then erodes the gingival tissue.

What can happen if my pet’s teeth aren’t cleaned?
Both plaque and tartar damage the teeth and gums. Disease starts with the gums (gingiva). They become inflamed – red, swollen, and sore. The gums finally separate from the teeth, creating pockets where more bacteria, plaque, and tartar build up. This in turn causes more damage, and finally tooth and bone loss.

This affects the whole body, too. Bacteria from these inflamed oral areas can enter the bloodstream and affect major body organs. The liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs are most commonly affected. Antibiotics are used prior to and after a dental cleaning to prevent bacterial spread through the blood stream.

But my pet is only 3 years old! Isn’t this an “old dog/cat disease”?
No – dental disease is NOT just for the senior pets. From the Pets Need Dental Care, Too web site:
“Without proper dental care, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three.”

Photo credit: “Open up and say Ahhhh” by sarah m scott on Flickr

The Importance of Dental Care for Pets

admin — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:27:27 +0000

The Importance of Dental Care for Pets

By Janet Tobiassen Crosby, DVM, About.com Guide

Companion piece to: Veterinary Q & A: Dental Care for Pets

Please see the archive for more Q & A topics.

Bad breath in pets, particularly dogs, is often joked about, but it is not a laughing matter. Dental disease affects up to 80% of pets over the age of three, and just like humans, there can be serious consequences of poor dental health.

How many teeth do dogs and cats have, anyway?
Dogs start out with 28 deciduous (baby) teeth, cats start out with 26 deciduous teeth. By six months of age, these baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, 42 in the dog and 30 in the cat.

Will I find the deciduous teeth, and what happens when they don’t fall out on their own?
You may or may not find the teeth as they fall out. As dogs play and chew on toys, you might see a tooth. Likewise, as a cat grooms, you may find a tooth in the fur. If the deciduous teeth don’t fall out and the permanent teeth erupt under them, this can lead to problems, such as increased tartar formation, malocclusion problems, and gingival (gum) irritation.

When should dental care start with my pet?
The earlier the better. With the help of your Veterinarian, be on the lookout for retained deciduous teeth and malocclusion (bad bite) problems. Your Veterinarian can teach you how to care for your pet’s teeth and gums early on.

How can I tell if my pet has dental problem?
Bad breath is often a first indicator of dental disease. Gently lift the lips and check for tartar, inflamed gums, or missing/broken teeth. Cats may exhibit increased drooling. Both cats and dogs can exhibit reluctance to eat or play with toys, “chattering” of the teeth when trying to eat, lethargy, bleeding gums, eroded teeth, and failing to groom (cats). Dental disease progresses in stages — if caught early, you can prevent further damage and save as many teeth as possible.

How is the rest of the body affected by bad teeth?
Infected gums and teeth aren’t just a problem in the mouth — the heart, kidneys, intestinal tract, and joints may also be infected. The tartar and any infected areas of the mouth contain a multitude of bacteria than can ‘seed’ to other parts of the body. With regular dental care, you can prevent some of these more serious side effects.

Where should I start?
With a new puppy or kitten, talk to your Veterinarian at the vaccination appointments on how to initiate a good dental care program at home. Most Veterinarians are happy to provide brushing lessons, and many carry brushes and toothpaste specifically for dogs and cats. (NOTE: do not use human toothpaste on your pet!)

If your pet is an adult over 3 years of age, it would be wise to schedule a dental check up with your Veterinarian. If a dental cleaning is necessary, it is advisable to do pre-anesthesia blood work to make sure your pet does not have any underlying problems.

My pet needs a dental cleaning — what is involved with that?
As mentioned above, pre-dental blood work is recommended. This is a check on the overall health of the pet to make sure that liver, kidneys, and blood counts are within normal ranges and to reduce any risks possible prior to the anesthesia. Many pets with bad teeth will be put on an antibiotic a few days prior to the dental to calm the infection and reduce possibility of complications.

Your pet will be fasted from the evening before for the anesthesia. The dental itself is similar to a human dental cleaning – tartar removal, checking for cavities, gingival (gum) pockets, loose teeth, any growths on the gums or palate, removal of diseased teeth, and finally, polishing. The polishing is to smooth the tooth after tartar removal, as the tartar pits the tooth. A smooth tooth will not encourage tartar formation as easily as a roughened tooth. Click here for a photo essay on a dental cleaning in a cat.

With good dental care, your pet can enjoy a long and healthy life.

Cat Dental Care

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:13:05 +0000

A Guide to Feline Dental Care

THE DENTAL CARE SERIES
By Jan Bellows D.V.M. DipAVDC
All Pets Dental Clinic

A Guide to Feline Dental Care
Feline dental care is perhaps the most overlooked and under-treated area in small animal medicine. Cats are affected by many of the same dental problems that affect dogs (periodontal disease, fractured teeth, and oral masses) in addition to special syndromes (tooth resorption, gingivostomatitis).

More than fifty percent of cats over three years old will be affected by tooth resorption (TR). These tooth defects have also been called cavities, neck lesions, external or internal root resorptions, or cervical line erosions. Teeth affected by lesions will erode and finally disappear when they are absorbed back into the cat’s body. The root structure breaks down; then the enamel and most of the tooth become ruined, and bone replaces the tooth. This most commonly happens where the gum meets the tooth surface. Some molars are most commonly affected; however, tooth resorptions can be found on any tooth. The reason for the resorption is unknown, but theories supporting an autoimmune response have been proposed.

Cats affected with tooth resorption may show excessive salivation, bleeding in the mouth, or have difficulty eating. Tooth resorptions can be quite painful. A majority of affected cats do not show obvious clinical signs. Most times it is up to the clinician to diagnose the lesions upon oral examination. Diagnostic aids include a probe or cotton tipped applicator applied to the suspected resorption; when the probe touches the lesion, it causes pain and jaw spasms. Radiographs are helpful in making definitive diagnosis and treatment planning.

Tooth resorptions can be seen in many stages:

Stage 1 (TR 1): Mild dental hard tissue loss.
Stage 2 (TR 2): Moderate dental hard tissue loss.
Stage 3 (TR 3): Deep dental hard tissue loss; most of the tooth retains its integrity.
Stage 4 (TR 4): Extensive dental hard tissue loss; most of the tooth has lost its integrity.
(a) Crown and root are equally affected;
(b) Crown is more severely affected than the root;
(c) Root is more severely affected than the crown.
Stage 5 (TR 5): Remnants of dental hard tissue are visible only as irregular radiopacities, and has completely covered the gum.

Radiographic appearances of the resorptions vary. If the periodontal ligament is visible, the tooth should be extracted via flap exposure. If the periodontal ligament is not visible, crown reduction and gingival closure can be performed.

Cats can also be affected by gingivostomatitis, an inflammation. The cause of this disease has not been determined but an immune-related cause is suspected. Signs in an affected cat include difficulty swallowing, weight loss, and excessive saliva. An oral examination will show many abnormalities. Radiographs often reveal moderate to severe periodontal disease with bone loss.

All stages of tooth resorption can be seen by the veterinarian and on x-rays. Managing a case of gingivostomatitis can be challenging. Oftentimes attempts at conservative therapy are not affective, nor is medical care. Extracting specific teeth usually resolves the syndrome in sixty percent of the cases. Twenty percent require medication, typically prednisone. Twenty percent respond poorly. A carbon dioxide laser has also been used with some success.

Cats are also affected by cancer in their mouths. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common type of oral cancer. Less common feline oral malignancies include melanoma, fibrosarcoma, lymphosarcoma, and undifferentiated carcinomas.

Not all feline oral swellings are malignant. Cats are frequently affected by reactions to foreign bodies, problems from dental disease, tumor-like masses, infections, and growths in the nose or throat. Biopsies are essential for diagnosis.

Some cats have orthodontic problems. Commonly a lance or saber-like projection of canine teeth occurs, especially in Persians. Cats are also affected with wry bites that are uneven.

Dr. Jan Bellows is a board-certified veterinary dentist. His office, Hometown Animal Hospital and Dental Clinic, is located at 17100 Royal Palm Boulevard in Weston, Florida. He can be reached for consultations at 954-349-5800.