CARING
FOR YOUR PET’S TEETH AT HOME
Imagine what condition your teeth would be in if you didn’t practice daily oral hygiene. You probably wouldn’t like the way you feel, not to mention the way you look. Although pets are not as vain as humans, they still maintain optimal health when routine oral hygiene is practiced at home. Unless you are providing some type of routine dental care at home, you are neglecting an easy and affordable means of enhancing and maintaining your pet’s overall health status.
Periodontal disease is one of the most common conditions seen in
veterinary hospitals. As gingivitis goes undetected or ignored, it progresses to
periodontal disease. At this stage,
the disease is irreversible and requires the surgical extraction of the affected
teeth and aggressive subgingival curettage to save any viable teeth and minimize
gum irritation. At this time
periodontal disease has already begun to take a toll on the vital life systems
of your pet, long before a professional dental prophylaxis has been considered.
Periodontal disease starts off with the formation of plaque, which is
composed of bacteria, food debris and salivary proteins, accumulating on all
surfaces of the teeth. Plaque then begins to calcify into tartar and gradually
builds up in the spaces between teeth and under gumlines, causing irritation,
redness and swelling. Over time,
the build up of tartar loosens the gingiva’s normally tight fit around each
tooth and allows deep pockets to form and even more bacteria and debris to reach
the root of the tooth. By this
time, your pet may already be experiencing extreme halitosis, sensitivity around
the mouth, decreased appetite, gum bleeding and/or recession. The increased bacterial load affects all the vital body
systems. Organs with the highest
blood transfer are the most susceptible to bacterial infection – these include
the liver, kidneys, lungs, brain and heart.
Now, you may ask what you can do in the grand scheme of preventing
periodontal disease? The answer is simple – HOME DENTAL CARE!
My best advice to anyone who wants to keep their pet’s teeth healthy is
to start when the pet is young, before their permanent teeth have erupted.
It is much easier to form a trusting bond with your pet regarding home
dental care at this time. If you
have not had this privilege and you have noticed some of the warning signs of
periodontal disease, then your first priority would be to schedule a dental
prophylaxis that may include extractions depending upon the severity of disease
present.
Brushing your pet’s teeth will not remove gross tartar from the tooth
surface, but it will prevent the accumulation of bacterial and food debris from
settling on the tooth surface and stimulate circulation on the gum surface.
There are a few key points to make this brushing regimen work for you and
your pet:
1.
Do it at regular intervals
2.
Do it at the same time each time
3.
Do it in the same place each time
4.
Make it FUN and not a punishment
5.
Do it gradually, build up to 30 or 60 seconds
DO
NOT expect your older pet to enjoy any bit of this just because it loves you.
It is important to adjust your pet to this new regimen GRADUALLY;
therefore I am suggesting a 3-week training period:
WEEK
1:
Pet their muzzle and pull the lip back to expose the gums and rub them
with your finger.
It is important to do this daily, at the same time and place in your
home. This will establish a habit
and we know all too well that animals are creatures of habit.
Afterwards use lots praise and reward with a treat.
For dogs I would suggest the large T/D (Hills Prescription Diet) kibble
and for cats there are many palatable “tartar reducing” cat treats available
at your local grocery store. If a
special treat is only given at this time, then many pets will look forward to
this time for the reward. Many dogs
will look forward to this time, not only for the reward, but also the one-on-one
attention.
WEEK
2: Pet
the muzzle with the toothbrush and let the pet taste the toothpaste.
Week 2 modifies week one with the introduction of a toothbrush and
toothpaste. I strongly recommend
using Virbac’s C.E.T Enzymatic Toothpaste.
When choosing a toothbrush, use a specially designed animal brush,
fingerbrush or a small pediatric, ultra-soft bristle toothbrush.
The later can be found in any grocery store.
Pet toothpastes have flavors that may appeal to your pet and do not need
to be rinsed. NEVER USE
human toothpaste or baking soda – these products often contain ingredients
that should not be swallowed and maybe harmful to your pet’s health.
WEEK
3: Brush
your pet’s teeth.
By this time, most pets have become familiar with the brush, toothpaste
and routine that you have established for them.
Start by placing a small amount of dentifrice on the brush.
Gently and with soothing words, raise your pet’s upper lip and place
the brush against the upper teeth. With
a slow circular motion, brush only small areas at a time and the adjoining
gumline. Gradually increase the
number of teeth brushed each time. Using
an enzymatic toothpaste decreases the work you have to do – even if the
toothpaste comes in contact with the tooth, your pet still benefits from the
procedure. Actually, your pet may
like the taste of the toothpaste so much that they lick it off the brush
–that’s OK, just load the brush up with more.
After brushing the maxillary (upper) teeth from back to front then move
to the mandibular (lower) teeth in the same fashion.
Repeat this procedure on the opposite side.
This procedure should take no longer than 60 seconds – 30 seconds on
each side. Don’t worry if you
have difficulty brushing the inside surfaces (lingual) of the teeth – the
tongues natural abrasive action combined with saliva and toothpaste will help. Do not allow the pet to drink water or consume food other
than the treat for approximately 20-30 minutes afterwards. This will allow the enzymes in the paste to benefit the
teeth.
Brushing your pet’s teeth is designed to retard plaque and calculus
accumulation. A hard diet,
specially designed chew treats and toys may also be helpful in maintaining
healthy gums and teeth. These are
supplemental and are not to be used as a substitute for professional cleaning
below the gumline or as a means of preventing and treating periodontal disease.
The hospital carries a full line of “tools” for your in-home dental
hygiene regimen. We can supply you
with Virbac’s C.E.T. Enzymatic tooth paste, specialized, angled toothbrushes,
finger brushes, Hills t/d Prescription Diet, Oxy Fresh Pet Deodorizer,
Virbac’s C.E.T. Chews for dogs and treats for cats (special order) and general
sound advice.
However, life is not always a bowl of cherries.
Some pets will not tolerate any type of restraint or foreign objects in
their mouth. It is important that
daily, home brushing be a pleasant routine for you and your pet.
If the techniques mentioned above are not practical for you there are
alternative methods that may be added to your pet’s daily routine.
These methods are intended to be supplemental to a professional dental
cleaning and home teeth brushing.
The easiest way to improve your pet’s dental health is to change their
diet. Hill’s Prescription Diet
Canine t/d is an innovative and nutritionally complete pet food that has
clinically been proven to reduce plaque and tartar accumulation and help prevent
gingivitis. The company claims you
may even notice fresher breath in your pet.
Diet is a major factor in the development of plaque and tartar.
Soft, sticky foods often contribute to periodontal disease, whereas hard,
crunchy food assists in reducing additional accumulation of plaque and tartar.
The larger kibble does not immediately shatter in your pet’s mouth,
hence there is a longer chewing action. The
patented formula in t/d has a unique fiber matrix that gently “scrubs” the
entire surface of the tooth. Hill’s
claims that the routine feeding of their diet is as “effective as weekly
brushing in dogs and helps clean and remove plaque and tarter buildup”.
Another product that the hospital promotes is Oxyfresh Pet Gel and Pet
deodorizer. The Pet Gel is an odorless and tasteless that can be used
orally to help neutralize odor-causing sulfur compounds that cause bad breath
and can lead to periodontal disease. The
Gel is formulated with natural ingredients such as Chamomile and Aloe Vera to
soothe and reduce gingival inflammation.
Brushing or massaging a quarter to half-inch ribbon of Oxyfresh Pet Gel
daily to your pet’s gum line is optimal, but even three to four times weekly
is beneficial.
And lastly, for the pet who has proven not to tolerate any oral
manipulation, then I would simply try switching to Hill’s Prescription t/d and
use Oxyfresh Pet Deodorizer. Place
one teaspoon of Pet Deodorizer solution into one quart of your pet’s drinking
water for breath-freshening benefits. It
is safe to drink and is the easiest step in the home care program.
If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to call our
office during normal business hours – I’d be more than happy to answer your
questions regarding pet dental care. GOOD
LUCK !
Pam (CVT)
For those of you who have been experiencing the early signs of periodontal disease with your pet, I am providing a 3-week regimen for in- home dental hygiene.
The
progression of periodontal disease:
1.
Accumulation of bacteria, food debris, and salivary proteins that
produce plaque
2.
Accumulation of plaque
mineralizes to form tartar
3.
Tartar begins to increase the space between teeth and gums
4.
Large pockets and sulcuses form
5.
Gingivitis allows tooth mobility and subsequent necrosis of nerves and
tooth roots
6.
Bacteria associated with periodontal disease may damage heart, liver and
kidneys
7.
Brushing your pet’s teeth will not remove gross tartar
from the tooth surface, but it will prevent the further accumulation of plaque
The first signs of progressing gum disease are:
1.
Moderate to extreme halitosis
2.
Sensitivity around the mouth
3.
Reluctance to eat
4.
Gum bleeding and/or recession
There are a few key points to make this brushing regimen work for you and
your pet:
1.
Do it at regular intervals
2.
Do it at the same time each
time
3.
Do it in the same place each time
4.
Make it FUN and not a punishment
5.
Do it gradually, build up to 30 or 60 seconds
It is important to adjust your pet to this new regimen GRADUALLY;
therefore I am suggesting a 3-week training period:
WEEK 1: Pet their
muzzle and pull the lip back to expose the gums and rub them with your finger.
1.
Do this daily, at the same time and place in your home
2.
Use lots praise and reward with a treat.
WEEK 2: Pet
the muzzle with the toothbrush and let the pet taste the toothpaste.
1.
Recommended use of
Virbac’s C.E.T Enzymatic Toothpaste
2.
Choose a toothbrush-- use a specially designed brush, fingerbrush
or a small pediatric, ultra-soft bristle toothbrush
3.
NEVER USE human toothpaste or baking soda – these products often contain
ingredients that should not be swallowed and may harm your pet’s health.
WEEK 3: Brush your
pet’s teeth.
1.
Place a small amount of dentifrice on the brush
2.
Gently and with soothing words, raise your pet’s upper lip and place
the brush against the upper teeth
3.
With a slow circular motion, brush only small areas at a time and the
adjoining gum line
4.
Gradually increase the
number of teeth brushed each time
5.
After brushing the
maxillary (upper) teeth from back to front then move to the mandibular (lower)
teeth in the same fashion
6.
Repeat this procedure on the opposite side
7.
This procedure should take no longer than 30-60 seconds on each side
8.
Do not allow the pet to drink water or consume food other than a treat
for approximately 20-30 minutes afterwards.
The hospital carries a full line of “tools” for your in-home dental
hygiene regimen:
1.
Virbac’s C.E.T. Enzymatic tooth paste
2.
Specialized, angled toothbrushes and finger brushes
3.
Hills t/d Prescription Diet
a.
Clinically proven to reduce plaque and tartar buildup
b.
Helps prevent gingivitis
c.
Larger kibble with patented fiber matrix scrubs teeth
4.
Oxy Fresh Pet Gel and Deodorizer
a.
Neutralizes sulfur compounds that cause halitosis
b.
Natural combination of Oxygene, Chamomile and Aloe Vera soothes,
cleanses and deodorizes
c.
Deodorizer solution can be mixed with drinking water to freshen breath
5.
Virbac’s C.E.T. Chews for dogs and treats for cats (special order)
a.
Complements home dental care program on days you can’t brush your
pet’s teeth
b.
Provides plaque fighting enzymes and natural abrasives to help clean
teeth and freshen breath
c.
Dual enzyme system triggers oral defense mechanism
d.
Chews are made from beef rawhide and other natural ingredients