Dental Problems in Your Dog

Posted in Preventive medicine | By: Tushar Kanchan | 06 Sep 2010 12:54 pm    

Dental Problems in Your Dog

Ron Hines, DVM PhD

One of the biggest problem causing tooth and gum disease in pets is that pet diets are formulated and textured to meet the desires of the pet’s owners – not for good oral hygiene. The villain in tooth and gum disease in pets and people is plaques. Plaque is a mixture of remaining food, and salivary minerals mixed with bacteria and acids produced by the fermentation of food. These products slowly irritate the gums (periodontal disease), dissolve the teeth and cause bad breath. Food particles tend to cling to the nooks and crannies which exist between the teeth.

Some breeds of dogs and cats (Maltese terriers, Siamese Cats, etc.) tend to have more dental disease. Feeding canned or soft diets increases the rate at which plaque is formed. In Ferrets, poor nutrition of the mother (the Jill) or exceptionally large litters and a lack of dietary calcium all contributes to later dental disease. So does feeding dog chow rather rather than cat or ferret chow – the kits (babies). Many productsa are available to prevent and control tartar and gum disease in pets. T/D is a dry food, produced by Hill's Company. It is engineered to reduce plaque and tartar accumulation. But if the teeth are already loose, this food may cause the problem to get worse rather than better. Another product, C.E.T. Chews produced by VRx Pharmaceuticals, is a freeze-dried fish treat that provides abrasive cleansing action as well as antibacterial enzymes to combat gingivitis other prescription chew brands are available.

The most important thing you can do to preserve your pet’s teeth is to feed a crunchy diet exclusively and avoid table scraps. It’s simply a matter of mechanics. A crunchy diet massages the gums and wears off plaque. The second most important thing you can do is to purchase an ultra-soft pediatric toothbrush and brush your pet’s teeth twice a day with a toothpaste designed for pets. Some pets prefer the poultry flavor, others the beef. It is best if you begin this when your pet is a puppy or kitten so that it will learn to accept it without a struggle.

When you brush, concentrate on the side of the tooth that is closest to the cheeks. Remember, dental and gum disease is basically a matter of prevention. There is no cure – once it has begun we can only slow its progress. In toy and smaller breeds, ultrasonic or manual removal of plaque may be necessary. Some pets are good natured enough to let you remove the tartar at home with a dental scraper - but most are not. If you do so, let a veterinary technician instruct you how and begin when the pet is very young.