How to maintain healthy teeth for your pet

What should you do as an owner? Provide excellent home dental care Visit your veterinary for an annual complete dental Feed a diet/treats that will help maintain healthy teeth that are caused by bad oral hygiene

Home dental care Includes routine examinations of your pets mouth and brushing their teeth Notify your veterinary if there is any: bad breath, red/ swollen gums, a yellow-brown crust of tartar around the gumline, and pain or bleeding when you touch the gums or mouth Brush your pets teeth once a day or at least every other day Feed hard kibble if possible: contributes to less plaque and tartar build-up. Use treats that will help clean the teeth Along with Treats/Food certain toys can help with plaque/Tartar build-up Use of water additives

Special diets and treats Science Diet Oral Care Diet for Dogs® Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. Prescription Diet® Canine t/d, also by Hill's Pet Nutrition Feline t/d- Hills Pet Nutrition, Inc Heinz Tartar Check Dog Biscuits® Heinz Pet Products Friskies Cheweez Beefhide Treats® Friskies Petcare Co. Greenies Treats for cats and dogs

Water additives A chemical such as chlorhexidine is added to your pets drinking water to kill some of the bacteria in the mouth, which helps to control plaque accumulation C. E. T. Rinse - Dental Rinse For Dogs & Cats Nolvadent Oral Cleansing: Dental Rinse for Dogs & Cats Nutri-Vet Breath Fresh Dental Rinse for Dogs Petrodex® Dental Rinse for Dogs and Cats

Toys Mechanical removal of plaque can be accomplished by using toys such as: - Plaque Attacker dental toys - rope toys - rawhide chips Do not use toys that are abrasive and can wear down the teeth such as tennis balls Avoid real bones because they could fracture or break the teeth - Always supervise your pet when they are chewing on a toy

What does a complete dental Prophylaxis (cleaning) consist of? Anesthetizing your pet Taking x-rays to assess the health of all of the teeth and bones of the mouth (if necessary/ optional) Cleaning the teeth with handheld and ultrasonic scalers Polishing the teeth to remove microscopic scratches Inspecting each tooth and the gum around it for any signs of disease or infection Flushing the mouth with an antibacterial solution Applying a dental agent to prevent plaque build up (optional) Recording any abnormalities on a dental chart Determining the best follow-up and home dental care program for your pet

What happens if teeth are not taken care of? Periodontal disease Gingivitis Caries (Cavities) Bleeding of the gums Pain in the mouth Halitosis (Bad breath) Heart/Kidney/Liver issues

Gingivitis Inflammation of the gingiva Causes gums to be swollen and red Caused by excess plaque buildup and poor dental hygiene

Gingivitis

Periodontal disease Periodontal disease is the most common disease in cats and dogs If the tartar is not removed, it builds up under the gums, and forms "pockets" and encourages even more bacterial growth It can be very painful and lead to: loose teeth, abscesses, and bone loss or infection Causes: poor oral hygiene Most common in older dogs, small breeds, and brachycephalic patients Symptoms: yellow and brown build-up of tartar along the gum line, inflamed gums and halitosis Treatment: depends on the stage it has progressed to; most often extractions of teeth are done, or a cleaning and barrier sealant are applied to the teeth

Stages of Periodontal disease Stage I Gingivitis - Margin of attached gingiva (gum) is inflamed and swollen. Plaque covers the teeth. Treatment can reverse condition. Stage II Early Periodontitis - Entire attached gum is inflamed and swollen. Mouth is painful and odor begins to be noticeable. Professional treatment and home dental care can prevent this from becoming irreversible. Stage III Moderate Periodontitis - Cherry red and bleeding attached gum is being destroyed by infection and calculus (tartar). Sore mouth affects eating and behavior. Bad breath is present. Beginning of periodontal disease. May be irreversible. Stage IV Advanced Periodontitis - Chronic bacterial infection is destroying the gum, tooth and bone. Bacteria may be spreading throughout the entire body via the bloodstream and may damage the kidneys, liver and heart.

Organ damage

Periodontal disease

Periodontal Disease

Caries Also known as cavities Caused by bad oral hygiene Treatment involves either filling in the cavity, a root canal or tooth extraction-$$$$$$ Cavities can lead to tooth fractures if not properly taken care of

Caries

Keep your pets teeth healthy!!

Sources cited erdisease.html erdisease.html &aid= &aid=517 tics/periodontal_disease.htm tics/periodontal_disease.htm ceedings/PR05000/PR00483.htm ceedings/PR05000/PR00483.htm