Nibbles and Bits - February 2008

Take a close look in your pet’s mouth and you may be surprised at what you see!

Have you noticed an odor coming from your pet’s mouth? You may have thought he just had bad breath but this may be a sign of dental disease. Have you taken a good look at your pet’s teeth lately? Are they nice and white or are they discolored? Do you ever notice any bleeding, drooling, or difficulty eating? These are signs of dental disease. Your pet may need his teeth cleaned.

Our pets can’t brush like we can so the plaque and tartar continue to build up on the teeth. This buildup can cause the bad breath that you smell and the disease in the mouth you see. Chewing food can become painful enough for your animals to stop eating. Furthermore, dental disease can cause internal problems such as kidney and heart disease, many of which you can not see. Age and breed does not matter. Dental disease can affect young and old, any breed.

Scheduling a visit for an exam at our hospital is the first step to improving your pet’s health. Our doctors will do a thorough physical examination which includes a complete oral exam and will be able to tell you if a professional dental cleaning is needed. If a cleaning is needed, our receptionists will schedule the procedure for a day that is convenient to you.

Your pet will need to stay with us for the day of his dentistry. Since anesthesia will be used to sedate your pet, bloodwork will be run prior to his cleaning to check kidney and liver functions, as well as other blood parameters. If there are any abnormalities, you will be contacted so that these may be discussed and the procedure postponed. As long as the bloodwork is normal, we will continue. The dentistry will be done by one of our trained Veterinary Dental Technicians. The procedure is similar to what you have done at your dentist’s office. Once your pet is under anesthesia, we will be able to examine the mouth more thoroughly. Teeth and gums will be examined for abnormalities. The teeth will be cleaned and polished with an ultrasonic scaler and polisher. Any oral surgeries or extractions will be done by one of our doctors. After the procedure, your pet will be a happier healthier family member.

Home care is an important part of caring for your pets teeth as well. Brushing your pet’s teeth regularly at home can sometimes be very challenging but will help keep plaque away. A dental sealant will have been applied during his cleaning. This sealant is available for use at home for continued protection in deterring plaque buildup. It is easy to use and will help keep the plaque and tartar from building up. If you have difficulty with any of this ask us for some tips. Schedule your pet’s visit to our hospital today so he can have a healthy bright white smile. And don’t hesitate to ask for a tour of the dental suite.

If you have any topics you’d like covered in this forum, you can email me at info@bah-vet.com.