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 More than 85% of dogs and cats over 4 years old have some form of Peridontal Disease, a painful inflammatory condition in which bacteria attack the gums, ligament, bone tissues that surround and support the teeth. Senior dogs and cats, those 7 or more years old, are especially susceptible to peridontal disease.
That's why it's important to have your pet's teeth examined by your Veterinarian on a routine basis. If left unchecked, bacteria from the mouth can enter the blood stream and travel to major organs, starting infections there and seriously compromising the health of your pet.
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| Past the teeth and through the gums, look out organs, here it comes! |
Most periodontal infections begin simply enough, Plaque - which is composed of bacteria, salivary proteins and food debris - builds up in the groove between teeth and gums, causing irritation, redness, and swelling. Eventually, pockets form and deepen, allowing bacteria to damage the tissues that hold teeth in place.
At this stage, bacteria from the oral infection have a clear path in the animal's bloodstream and vital organs. The organs with the highest blood flow are most susceptible to infection: lungs, heart, kidneys, liver and even the brain. Damage to these caused by infection can shorten the lives of dogs and cat
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| Prevention
starts at home. |
 As easy as it is for your pet to get a periodontal infection, it's just as easy for you to prevent it. The first step is brushing ypur pet's teeth on a regular basis to reduce plaque buildup and gingivitis. You should use a special toothbrush and toothpaste designed for the pets. Avoid using toothpaste for people because it can upset your pet's stomach.
Do you want to know how to brush your pet's teeth?
Giving your pet chew toys and feeding them hard or coarse-textured food and can also help remove plaque.
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| Look
for these warning signs! |
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Bad Breath - One of the first signs of dental disease. |
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A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line. |
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Red & Swollen Gums. |
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Pain or bleeding when your pet eats or when the mouth and gums are touched |
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Decreased Appetite or difficulty eating. |
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Loose or missing teeth. |
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| If your pet displays any of these signs, please consult an AAH staff member. |
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| Treating
Gingivitis, Tartar, and Peridontal Diseases |
To correct the gingivitis that is present it is important to gently clean under the gum line. This can only be accomplished thoroughly and gently if your pet is under sedation. Sedation will make it impossible for your pet to experience any anxiety from having instruments placed in its mouth, or discomfort when the tartar is actually removed. This is why we sedate every pet to clean its teeth and perform a proper oral exam.
Since the risk of sedation is negligible
with the precautions we take and the precise method available
to administer and monitor anesthetic, it is well worth the
negligible risk in order to clean the teeth and gums properly.
To minimize the risk, we recommed IV Catheter and Fluid Therapy
during the procedure. We also recommend Pre-Operative blood test
to check for internal problems.The primary way to clean under
the gum line, remove tartar and restore your pet's gums to
optimum health, is to scale them using our ultrasonic scaler.
First, the large pieces of tartar are removed with special
instruments to crack the tartar off. Then, using precise instruments
and our ultrasonic scaler, the gums are gently cleaned under
the gum line. After they are scaled we polish the teeth to
make it more difficult for bacteria to adhere to them and
start the cycle of plaque, tartar, and gingivitis all over
again. This can only be performed thoroughly on a pet that
is anesthetized.
Cleaning can restore the gums to a healthy state, which can then be controlled with brushing at home, feeding hard food, and routine monitoring by one of our doctors every 6-12 months. If proper home care is followed, this pet will usually need to have its teeth cleaned by one of our technicians only once every few years, although every pet is different. If you follow this preventive program your pet will not encounter advanced dental disease and have a much better quality of life. |
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