Home Dental Care

Routine home care should be started as soon as possible. Depending on the size of your dog, the infant, childrens or adult brushes with soft bristles can be used. Try to make brushing an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Patience and time are the two mainstays. It takes an average of two months for your pet to get used to having its' teeth brushed, however, the health rewards are well worth it.

There are good toothpastes available for the dog and cat as well as liquid gum conditioners. Consult with our veterinarian for the one best suited for your pet. Human toothpastes, salt, and baking soda should not he used, Toothpastes' foaming action is irritating and all of these substances can cause illness if swallowed.

Deciduous (temporary) or "milk" teeth begin to appear when a puppy is about four weeks of age, and are lost gradually between 14 and 30 weeks of age. During this time, puppies may eat slightly less and chew more. Hard rubber or rawhide toys made especially for dogs are a good investment to help prevent household damage during this time.

Occasionally, a puppy will retain some deciduous teeth after his permanent teeth have appeared. This may damage the soft tissues of the mouth and may even accelerate wear of permanent teeth. A veterinarian should be consulted to determine whether or not removal is necessary.

Dental Problems

A cracked or broken tooth can be painful if the nerve tissue is exposed; if it becomes infected, there is the danger of the infection spreading through the bloodstream. Prompt veterinary attention is recommended.

Here are some of the common warning signs of dental problems in dogs:

• Loss of appetite
• Red, swollen and bleeding gums
• Drooling
• Blood in the saliva
• Yellow-brown tartar at the gum line
• Broken teeth
• Foul breath

However, the most common dental problems dogs experience is buildup from plaque and calculus. If left unchecked, plaque and calculus buildup can eventually cause inflammation of both the gums (gingivitis) and the membrane lining of the tooth socket (periodontitis). Without proper treatment, the teeth may become infected and fall out and the resulting infection may spread to other parts of the body such as the kidneys or valves of the heart.

Dental problems can be minimized or even prevented through regular cleaning and scaling under anesthesia, done by a veterinarian.

Additionally, dry, crunchy foods can be helpful in keeping teeth clean. As the dog chews, particles from the dry food scrape against the teeth, acting like a toothbrush to help remove plaque.

Some of the products we offer for home dental care include:

C.E.T. ORAL HYGIENE RINSE

C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Rinse combines the renowned antiseptic activity of 0.12% chlorhexidine and zinc gluconate and may be used with or without brushing. It also contains cetylpyridinium chloride for fresh breath fast. A unique bent-stem applicator is also included for easy administration. Available in the following size: 8 oz. bottle with applicator.

C.E.T. ENZYMATIC TOOTHPASTES FOR DOGS AND CATS

C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpastes for dogs and cats contain the C.E.T. Dual Enzyme system. Formulated specially for dogs and cats to inhibit the formation of plaque, they contain no foaming agents and are meant to be swallowed. Poultry, malt, and vanilla-mint flavors are well accepted by pets and make brushing easy. Available in 2.5 oz. (70 g) tubes.

C.E.T. AQUADENT FOR DOGS AND CATS

CET AquaDent Dental additive. Formulated by veterinary dental specialists to help freshen your pet's breath and prevent plaque accumulation when used in conjunction with a regular home dental care program. simply add C.E.T. When added to pets drinking water daily, Virbac's new CET AquaDent freshens dogs and cats breath and helps prevent plaque accumulation. The easy-to-use, convenient additive comes in 750-mL bottles and is intended for dogs and cats 6 months of age and older.

CANINE DENTAL CHEWS - by PURINA

Formulated to provide both an enjoyable treat experience and between meal dental benefits. These high protein, digestible chew treats have been proven to significantly reduce the accumulation of tartar. Dental Chews are a perfect complement when using the DH , and JM formulas.

Veterinary Dental Treatments

If your pet has existing periodontal disease, the only way to clean the teeth is under general anesthetic. The teeth are explored with a probe to map the packets (a 6 point exam on every tooth), then hand and /or ultrasonic scaling of the crown (exposed tooth) is done followed by a thorough cleaning below the gum line. The tartar you see on the tooth is not where the main disease process occurs! Polishing removes the microscopic scratches on the teeth that cleaning causes. If this step is avoided, the tartar can actually build up faster. A medicated solution is flushed below the gum line to remove debris and reduce bacteria. Fluoride is then applied to the teeth.

Thorough oral hygiene by your veterinarian takes anywhere from 35 minutes to over 2 hours depending on the severity of the mouth problem.

Please avoid giving your dogs bone and cow hooves to chew on. These often cause tooth fractures requiring root canals or extractions. Nylar bones are preferable. They are available at your veterinary clinic, or at most pet supply stores.

For more information on pet dentistry, please call us at 713.468.1676.