February is National Dental Awareness Month

by Pete Alexander

Ok, so how many of you out there brush your dogs’ teeth? And if so, how frequently? And how many of you have been brushing your kitties’ pearly whites?

My guess would be, oh, um, not too many. And by the way, didn’t dogs get along just fine in the wild without a bunch of vets and toothpaste around? Well, our family dogs are not, at least I hope, wild dogs; rather they are domesticated. And according to Milinda Lommer, DVM, Aggie Animal Dental Service, "There are several reasons why domestic dogs require dental care while their wild counterparts may not. In the wild, dogs’ heads are primarily one shape: a moderately long jaw and symmetrical nose, proportioned properly to accommodate the 42 teeth present in canids. Domestic dogs have been bred to be many different sizes and shapes, and most of our domestic dogs would not survive in the wild. Brachycephalic (literally "short head") breeds such as pugs and bulldogs typically don’t have room in their mouths for 42 teeth; as a result, many of their teeth are rotated or otherwise malpositioned and crowded. Without proper care, this usually leads to rapid plaque accumulation and early periodontal disease.

"In addition, wild canids such as wolves have an average life expectancy of 3-4 years (reference: National Park Service Department of the Interior), so problems such as fractured teeth, which undoubtedly occur during fights between animals or when gnawing on bones, may not have a chance to become tooth-root abscesses. Our pets may live to be 15 years or older, so long-standing dental disease is more likely to affect them."

Bottom line, folks, your dogs’ and cats’ teeth need regular care! Now, I just know that you are brushing your own teeth two to three times a day, right? And why? Because you hate to go to the dentist, and you may also know that poor dental health can lead to very serious, if not deadly, health issues.

Well, believe it or not, dogs and cats can develop some of the same critical health problems as humans. As Dan Famini, DVM at Humane Society and SPCA of Sonoma County (HSSC), says, "When an animal has dental disease it is exposing its whole body and blood stream to bacteria. Pets can get secondary infections in other tissues too (including the heart and kidneys) from dental disease."

No, YOU tell Rover he has bad breath!

Is your dog getting fewer kisses lately (hoo-eee, that’s some breath you got there, Buddy)? Do you suspect she has been doing some surreptitious poop-snacking on her walks? Well, just so you know, this might be a clue that your sweetie has some dental problems, and you might want to take a look at her teeth and gums.

What do you look for as you peer inside? If you see a color that’s a yellow-brown at the base of the teeth, you might be looking at plaque. Dr. Lommer says, "Healthy teeth are white with a smooth enamel surface and no fractures. Healthy gums are pale pink, with a ‘knife edge’ appearance (i.e. lying flat against the crown of the tooth). Diseased teeth may be fractured, encrusted with tartar, or have defects in the enamel and underlying dentin. Inflamed gums are red, swollen or puffy, may bleed when touched, and may have receded away from the crown of the tooth, exposing some of the root surface."

OK, we all should know that plaque and bleeding gums are not good, and that brushing regularly helps resolve such issues. However, even if your dog’s teeth are of star quality, regular brushing will help prevent dental disease from even occurring.

Mmmmm, spearmint

You’ve never brushed a dog’s teeth before? Well, here’s how, according to Dr. Lommer: "Be patient when initiating oral home care, especially in older animals. It is best to start dental care when the mouth is healthy. This may mean starting from puppy- or kitten-hood, or starting a week or so after professional dental care. Introduce brushing gradually; don’t force the mouth open, just slide your finger under your pet’s cheek.

"Begin by rubbing your pet’s teeth and gums with a moistened gauze square wrapped around a finger. When your pet is accustomed to this, introduce a toothbrush designed for pets, or a softbristled human toothbrush. Cotton swabs work well for cats and extremely small dogs. Start with just a few seconds of brushing at a time, and always praise your pet during and after the process. When done at the same time every day and followed with a rewarding activity such as coat brushing (if the pet enjoys this!), a special game played together, or a walk, tooth-brushing can be a bonding experience. The flavored pet toothpaste products can also be enticing."

By the way, don’t use any metal tools to remove tartar; they might damage the enamel. But do brush at least 3 times a week and ideally every day.

You might also invest in some dental chews such as Greenies (downside, high calories), CET chews, Hextra chews, Nylabones, and others, but remember, nothing takes the place of good old ivory swabbing. Other chews may not be so helpful. As Dr. Kathryn Hinkle, DVM, Animal Hospital of Cotati, says, "Do not let your dog chew on anything harder than their own teeth." If they do, their teeth can fracture, and fractured teeth can lead to infection, pain, and risk to other organs.

If you want to know what is an acceptable chew, go to the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s (VOHC) website to see which products have been awarded the Seal of Acceptance (www.vohc.org). While there you can also find out about approved diet products that can improve dental health. If after several weeks the plaque is not going away, you may need to have your veterinarian do a thorough cleaning while your dog is under general anesthesia. Now, that does cost more than a toothbrush and some toothpaste, by the way.

What, the vet again?

Crystal ball, crystal ball, is there a teeth cleaning by a vet in my dog’s future? On occasion even regular brushing may not cut it. Some dogs require more frequent professional cleaning, and yours may only need it every 3-4 years. However, teeth should be looked at regularly. How regularly? Dr. Lommer advises, "Every pet should have a physical examination by a veterinarian at least once yearly."

A complete physical examination should include a brief exam of the oral cavity, where the veterinarian may identify common problems such as gingivitis or fractured teeth, or less common problems such as oral tumors. By the way, your dog’s or cat’s breed may dictate more frequent visits. Some breeds are more prone to develop periodontal disease and need more attentive exams.

"Periodontal disease is the number one problem we see in cats and dogs," says Famini, "and it’s easily preventable in most cases with proper oral care." And Dr. Lommer reminds us to be mindful of our pets’ happiness. "Oral disease is usually not life-threatening, but it is ‘quality-of-life’ threatening. Swollen, bleeding gums, teeth being ‘eaten alive’ by cavities, or fractured teeth may or may not cause disease elsewhere in the body, but they unequivocally reduce the pet’s ability to enjoy life to the fullest."