Dogs at the Dentist?

We all go to the dentist routinely - so why shouldn't our cats and dogs? The answer is, they should. All of us have been told by our dentist that poor dental hygiene causes plaque build-up, and plaque build-up can cause gum disease and infection. The same goes for our pets. Years of bacteria thriving in your pet's mouth can have serious repercussions.  Yet studies show, dental care is one of the most ignored aspects of pet health. In fact, as my veterinarian in Denver pointed out, according to the AAHA, close to 75% of pet owners fail to provide recommended dental care to their pets.

Periodontal Disease
"Getting my dog's teeth cleaned? That's crazy!" - Actually it's not. Countless scientific studies show that pet's with clean mouths can live for up to 2 years longer than pets with dangerous plaque build-up. Why? Because a clean mouth leads to a healthy life. The most common disease arising from poor dental health is periodontal disease, an infection of the gum tissue around the teeth. Has your dentist ever warned you about gingivitis? Well dogs and cats get it too. We avoid the disease by brushing our teeth twice a day and flossing regularly. Unfortunately for our pets, the lack of brushing can lead to plaque and tartar growth which can ultimately result in gum decay, which leaves painful holes in our pet's mouth.

When is it time?
Of course, the best way to determine if you pet needs a teeth cleaning is to make a quick trip to your vet. When I last visited my local Denver veterinarian (before I knew anything about animal dental health) my vet immediately recognized that Maddie was in serious pain and needed a cleaning. But here are a few signs before you make the trip:

• Breath
• If your dog or cat's breath makes you wince, it might be time.
• Loose Teeth
• Loosing teeth is a sign of serious gum decay.
• Drooling
• Lots of dogs drool. But if drooling becomes excessive or irregular, it could be time for a teeth cleaning.
• Inflamed Gums
• Red and poofy gums are an indicator of gingivitis and could mean your dog or cat needs a cleaning.

Solution and Avoidance

Of course, one way to avoid dangerous gum disease is to bring your pet in regularly (according to my Denver Animal Hospital about once/year). But there are some easier and cheaper ways that help keep your animal's teeth clean.

• Canine Tooth Brushing Kit - That's right, a tooth brush for your dog. You can buy a brush and toothpaste made especially for dogs, or you can make your own and home with a piece of gauze for a brush and a baking soda/water mix for toothpaste.
• Hard Toys - Hard chew toys can dislodge plaque and bacteria from your dog's teeth.
• Hard food for cats - Just like chew toys for dog's, biting on hard items can keep teeth clean by stimulating the gum and dislodging harmful bacteria.

The Process

A dental cleaning is a routine process for veterinarians these days. Just like any concerned pet owner, before I had Maddie's teeth cleaned, I had my veterinarian at my Wheat Ridge Animal Hospital talk me through the procedure. 1) The vet preforms a pre-anesthetic exam. All that means is they take a peak inside your pet's mouth and determine what they can see as the problem. If a cleaning is necessary, the next step is, 2) anesthesia. All medical procedures have some risk, but my vet explained how modern anesthesia has extremely low risk. 3) After your pet receives the anesthesia, x-rays are often taken, just like the x-rays we get at our dentists. 4) The vet cleans and polishes the teeth. If the gums are badly decayed, some teeth may be removed. 5) Finally, the vet will treat the teeth with fluoride to help strengthen them against further bacterial infection.


Cost
I want to share a quick story here because my best advice is to shop around. I first went to the Firehouse Animal Hospital I wrote about in my first post, and true to the Google reviews the cost was unbelievable.  I was given a bid that amounted to almost a grand, so I decided to look at around at other Denver Animal Hospitals. I next visited a Denver Veterinarian a friend had recommended. The bid was less than $400 and the service was amazingly friendly.

So do some quick checks and take your pet in for an oral examination. They could be in great discomfort and you can't even tell.