Would you let years go by between visits to the dentist?
Probably not! Your pet's dental health is just as
important to his or her overall health as your dental
health is to your general health. To help veterinarians
and their teams provide excellent dental care for dogs and
cats and educate pet owners about the importance of proper
dental care throughout their pets’ lives, the American
Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has developed the AAHA
Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Major highlights
of these guidelines are covered in this article.
Why Dental Care?
Dental care of dogs and cats is one of the most commonly
overlooked areas of pet health care. In fact, a recent
AAHA study showed that approximately two-thirds of pet
owners do not provide the dental care that is recommended
as essential by veterinarians. What’s more, the American
Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80 percent of dogs
and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age
three.
Dental disease doesn’t affect just the mouth. It can lead
to more serious health problems including heart, lung and
kidney disease, which makes it all the more important that
you provide your pets with proper dental care from the
start.
AAHA’s Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats were
designed to provide veterinarians and their teams with a
working framework for small animal dentistry practice,
including dental examinations and cleaning and surgical
procedures. Your pet’s dental health isn’t just in the
hands of your veterinarian though. Pet owner education
regarding treatment options for optimum dental health and
the importance of home care are emphasized throughout the
guidelines.
Periodontal Disease
Fido’s dog breath and Tabby’s tuna breath aren’t something
to be ignored – they could be indicative of an oral
problem, and the sooner you have it treated by your
veterinarian (and learn to care for it yourself), the
sooner you and your pet can smile proudly.
Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissue
surrounding the teeth that takes hold in progressive
stages. It starts out as a bacterial film called plaque.
The bacteria attach to the teeth. When the bacteria die
they can be calcified by calcium in saliva. This forms a
hard, rough substance called tartar or calculus which
allows more plaque to accumulate. Initially, plaque is
soft and brushing or chewing hard food and toys can
dislodge it. If left to spread, plaque can lead to
gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, causing them to
become red and swollen and to bleed easily.
As plaque and calculus develop below the gum line,
professional cleaning will be needed to help manage it. If
the plaque and tartar buildup continues unchecked,
infection can form around the root of the tooth.
In the final stages of periodontal disease, the tissues
surrounding the tooth are destroyed, the bony socket
holding the tooth in erodes and the tooth becomes loose.
This is a very painful process for your four-legged
friend, but these problems can be averted before they even
start.
Dental Care at the Veterinary Practice
There are two critical components of your pet’s
veterinary dental care: oral examinations and dental
cleanings. Veterinary dental care begins at the puppy and
kitten life stage. AAHA recommends that veterinarians
evaluate puppies and kittens for problems related to the
deciduous (baby) teeth, missing or extra teeth, swellings
and oral development. As your pet ages, your veterinarian
will look for developmental anomalies, the accumulation of
plaque and tartar, periodontal disease and oral tumors.
Veterinarians can perform a basic oral examination on
patients that are awake. However, a short-lasting
anesthetic is required in order to provide a complete and
thorough examination as well as dental cleanings.
The AAHA Dental Care Guidelines recommend regular oral
examinations and dental cleanings, under general
anesthesia, for all adult dogs and cats. AAHA recommends
these procedures at least annually starting at one year of
age for cats and small-breed dogs, and at two years of age
for large-breed dogs.
The guidelines further recommend the following:
Pre-anesthetic exam — Whenever
anesthesia is needed, special considerations are taken
to help ensure the safety of your pet. Your veterinarian
will thoroughly examine your pet to make sure she’s
healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. Depending on your
pet’s age and general physical condition, your
veterinarian may also run blood, urine,
electrocardiograph, and x-ray tests to check for any
dangerous heart, kidney, or other conditions. Though
there is some risk associated with any medical
procedure, modern anesthesia is usually safe, even for
older pets.
Anesthesia monitoring — During
anesthesia, the monitoring and recording of your pet’s
vital signs (such as body temperature, heart rate, and
respiration, as well as other important factors) is
important. This helps ensure the safety of your pet
while undergoing anesthesia.
Dental radiographs — Radiographs
(x-rays) of the teeth are needed periodically in order
to completely evaluate your pet’s oral health. X-rays
aid the veterinarian greatly in detecting abnormalities
that cannot be detected under examination alone. In some
cases, x-rays can confirm the need for extraction of
teeth that are loose or badly infected.
Scaling & Polishing — Veterinarians are
advised to use similar instruments as human dentists to
remove plaque and calculus from your pet’s teeth. To
smooth out any scratches in the tooth enamel, polishing
with a special paste is also recommended.
Fluoride/sealants — The application of
an anti-plaque substance, such as a fluoride treatment
and/or a barrier sealant is also advised. This can help
strengthen and desensitize teeth as well as decrease
future plaque.
Remember... pets can live
longer, healthier lives if oral health care is managed and
maintained throughout their lives. In fact, proper dental
care may add as much as five years to your pet's life!
Talk to your veterinarian about developing a dental care
plan for your furry friend.
