February is Pet Dental Health Month. Veterinary organizations across the country have set aside this month to raise awareness of dental health for your pet. Dental care for your pet is one of the most important and most overlooked parts of a comprehensive preventative medicine program for your companion. Periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed problem in companion animals,
and only recently has the veterinary profession begun to pay special attention to this important aspect of overall health. According to American Veterinary Dental Society, 85% of adult pets have some level of periodontal disease. When teeth are not healthy, there can be wide ranging effects on the rest of the body, including chronic infections, heart disease, kidney disease, and chronic pain. Having an infected tooth is not always obvious, but can cause chronic pain and serious health problems if neglected. Fortunately, just like with people, many serious dental problems can be prevented with a combination of home care and periodic dental cleanings.

Signs to Watch For:

• Redness along the gum line (gingivitis) may not look significant, but can hide deeper problems.
  If your pet has gingivitis, (red or bleeding gums) we should examine the teeth and the periodontal spaces under anesthesia.
• Tartar accumulation occurs in all animals over time, and this should be periodically removed
  while under anesthesia. Tartar can collect debris and bacteria and can cause halitosis, gum
  recession, root exposure, infection, and even tooth loss.
• Broken or cracked teeth should be checked as soon as they are noticed. Any fractures can
  allow infection to enter the pulp cavity, and cause tooth root abscesses. This is a serious problem, and can only be diagnosed with dental radiographs.
• Halitosis and drooling can also be signs of hidden dental disease and should be examined.
• Cats that stop grooming themselves may also have dental disease, making grooming difficult.
• Most animals will continue to eat in spite of severe dental disease. Just because your pet is still eating does not mean the teeth are OK. Once they stop eating due to dental disease, the
  condition is usually very serious, and may be life threatening.

We routinely evaluate teeth during every examination, and look for these signs of disease. However,
if you notice these or any other problems we should examine your pet as soon as possible.

Home Care:

There are many things you can do at home to keep your pet’s teeth in the best possible shape.
One of the most effective is brushing. With practice and patience, you can brush your pet’s teeth, and can even make it an enjoyable time for them. Of course, some animals will not tolerate this but most animals learn that it’s not horrible, only takes a few minutes, and they can have a treat at the end. Start slowly by just lifting the lips and examining the teeth. While you look for signs of diseas(see below) you should touch the teeth and gums gently, and rub your fingers along the gum line. This will allow your pet to learn that the procedure is not scary or painful. Once you have spent several seconds touching and massaging the gum line, give your pet a treat as a reward. There are several dental friendly treats available. Once your pet gets used to massage with your finger, you
can gradually introduce a small brush, either a soft child’s toothbrush, or a special brush for pets available at most pet stores. There are also brushes that fit over your finger that may be easier to use. Don’t scrub hard, as this may be uncomfortable. Once your pet is used to the brush, then add toothpaste. Do not use human toothpaste as these contain detergents that may make your pet vomit if swallowed. Use a flavored toothpaste for dogs or cats available at most pet stores. Ideally, you should brush each tooth for about 1-2 seconds, paying special attention to the gum line. Once you have finished, be sure to follow up with a dental friendly treat as a reward. If approached gradually and gently, tooth brushing time can even become something your pet looks forward to, and only takes a few minutes. It also can be one of the most important parts of preventative
dental health.

Veterinary Dental Cleaning:

Even the best home care with brushing cannot prevent buildup of tartar and development of problems in the periodontal space (the small pocket between the crown and the gums). This pocket will accumulate food debris, plaque and bacteria over time, and needs to be thoroughly cleaned out. We can perform this procedure right at your home. This procedure must be done under anesthesia, but is very important in a preventative health program. Pet owners may be concerned about the need for anesthesia to perform this procedure, but with modern anesthetic protocols and monitoring, the risk can be kept to a minimum. Prior to anesthesia, we perform a thorough physical exam and blood work to determine your pet’s overall health. While under anesthesia, we use a variety of monitors and techniques to keep your pet as safe as possible. These procedures help insure a quick and uneventful recovery, so your pet can return to normal activity very quickly.
Another advantage of thorough dental cleaning under anesthesia is the ability to detect subtle, but
important signs of disease that may not be visible otherwise. Probing the periodontal space and dental radiography are vital to detecting signs of disease, since most dental disease is under the gum line. Problems with tooth roots can cause pain, infection, bone loss, tooth loss and systemic diseases. Periodic veterinary dental cleaning and exams under anesthesia can detect these problems early so your pet remains healthy overall and can keep a healthy set of teeth well into the golden years.

Just like human teeth, most problems occur under the gum line. We routinely take dental x-rays of
any suspicious teeth during dental cleanings to look for problems under the gums. These x-rays are
vital to accurate diagnosis and treatment of dental problems.

Investment in Health:

It is always better to prevent a problem from occurring than to have to treat one after it occurs.
Many dental problems can be prevented with regular home care and periodic cleanings. A dental
cleaning every 3 or 4 years can prevent serious problems later in life, when the cost of treatment can be much higher, and the anesthetic risk is greater. Prevention is the key to a long and healthy life!

For the month of February, Pet Dental Health Month,
we are offering $50 off the total cost of a dental exam and cleaning.*
Give us a call today at 360-598-3900 to schedule an appointment.
Let us help you keep your pet’s teeth clean and healthy. Click Here!

*This offer does not cover the initial exam or mobile service fee.