Dental Healthcare is Crucial to Your Pets' Health

Think it’s okay to skip brushing your pet’s teeth? Imagine, just for a minute, your own mouth as if it were your pet’s. You can’t brush your teeth or floss. You can’t even rub your gums with your fingers. You can, however, rub your face along the ground if you so desire.

Would you be able to make it a week with this type of oral hygiene care? How fast would the plaque build up? What would your breath smell like? Would something that you ate several days ago still be stuck between your teeth, pushing its way under your gumline and causing pain, discomfort, and maybe even an infection?

After a very brief time, your gums would start to redden. They might even bleed if you bit into something hard. Would you be willing to allow this to continue for a month? A year? Several years?

Unfortunately, this is typical of the oral care that many of our beloved pets receive. It is no more acceptable for your cat or your dog than it is for you. So what does that mean for your furry friend? A lack of both daily oral care and regular professional examinations and treatment leads to localized pain and infection, as well as potential systemic problems, such as heart, kidney, liver, and lung disease. Poor dental care causes a decreased quality of life and can lead to a shortened life span, whether you have two or four legs.

VETERINARY CARE
So how do you ensure the best dental care for your pet? The first step is to schedule your furry friend for an oral healthcare evaluation with your veterinarian. A preliminary assessment can be performed in the examination room while your pet is awake, but a full evaluation requires examining the teeth and gums while your pet is under anesthesia. A full evaluation includes charting, cleaning, polishing, probing, and taking dental x-rays, along with a thorough examination of the oral tissues and teeth.

Ask if your veterinary team will provide you with before and after photos and review x-rays with you. These visual aids can help you appreciate the amount of periodontal disease that may be present in your pet’s teeth and gums, as well as reveal any abscesses or other indications of disease. The veterinary staff HealthyPet —Winter 2009 7 will also be able to show you areas of special concern.

AT HOME
Once your pet has healthy gums and teeth from her professional treatment, you can begin brushing her teeth. Ask your veterinary staff to walk you through the process. Then figure out a way to make brushing a habit (such as always brushing your pet’s teeth just before you’ve brushed your own). The most important thing is to focus on making the process enjoyable and as stress free as possible for you and your pet (for tips, see the box at left).

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How to Make Brushing Simple, Even Fun

It is critical that you do not start brushing gums or teeth that are painful. Wait until any problems have been resolved and your pet’s teeth have been professionally cleaned. Here are some tips:

• Don’t try to frantically brush your dog’s or cat’s teeth when you are already five minutes late for work. Your pet will likely notice your tension and not relax.
• Let your pet start by licking toothpaste off your finger. Make sure you choose a toothpaste formulated specifically for pets. Human toothpaste can make pets sick.
• Next, gently insert your finger under the upper lip. You don’t need to see your pet’s teeth or pry her jaws open. You can do everything by feel alone.
• Gently massage the surface of the upper teeth under the lip for 5 or 10 seconds. After you are done, give the best treat in the world with lots of praise.
• As your pet gets used to massage, gradually increase the duration. Aim for one to two minutes twice a day. Continue giving a treat (or even a final lick of toothpaste) as a reward.
• When your pet is completely used to the process, slowly introduce a toothbrush specially made for cats and dogs. By that time, your pet should find the experience thoroughly enjoyable!