Pet Dental Health

"His breath is smelly enough to flatten our house!"

"Don't let her lick your face, Doc, you may pass out from the smell."

"His teeth use to be so pretty, now they are all brown and stained."

The doctors at Greens Fork Animal Hospital have all heard the above statements repeated over and over again by owners.  People are dismayed because the pets they once loved to cuddle up to and shower with hugs and kisses now have breath bad enough to curdle the milk in their coffee.

The bad smell is usually associated with dental plaque, tartar, and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums).  Tell-tale signs of dental disease are a build-up of brownish or grayish material on your pet's teeth and a reddening around the gum line.  Dental disease is probably the number one disease process seen by veterinarians today, and can constitute a real health problem for your pet.  In addition to the bad smell (halitosis), tartar and gingivitis can lead to tooth abscesses, loose or missing teeth, unwillingness to eat, and generalized mouth pain if left unattended.  It can also lead to more systemic (body-wide) diseases, such as bacterial infections which are carried through the bloodstream to the heart, kidneys and other organs.  These types of infections may lead to costly treatments ($1000-$2000).  Having your pet's teeth cleaned on a regular basis will not only save you money in the long run, but will ultimately lead to better health for your pet.

How Dental Disease Can Affect Your Pet

More than eight out of 10 dogs and cats over 4 years old suffer from dental disease, a common condition in which bacteria attack the soft gum tissue.

How a Simple Dental Infection Spreads

		Cat with Periodontal Disease
		With gums deteriorated this badly, bacteria have a clear path to bloodstream and vital organs.

Periodic Professional Dental Cleaning Is Recommended 

During this process the pet is anesthetized and the teeth are cleaned and polished similar to the way a dentist cleans human teeth.

Anesthesia for pets has changed dramatically in the last two decades.  Whereas the older anesthesia was injected and difficult to regulate and control, the new anesthesia gases are easily regulated and can be quickly reversed. Greens Fork Animal Hospital staff use the very safest anesthesia gases (isoflurane and sevoflurane) and state of the art anesthesia techniques.  Greens Fork Animal Hospital staff never takes anesthesia for granted, but the risk is minimal.

 To further insure the safety of your pet, pre-anesthesia blood testing is done to detect abnormalities that could interfere with the metabolism of the anesthetics. The test involves drawing blood from the pet after it is dropped off for surgery but before the animal is anesthetized.  We then run tests on the blood machines in our clinic to screen for liver, kidney and blood count abnormalities.  If no abnormalities are found, we proceed with anesthesia.  If abnormalities are found, we do not proceed with anesthesia until the pet's owner is consulted and a plan of action is discussed.

Take a "Bite" Out of Dental Disease

Preventing Periodontal Disease Should Not Be "Like Pulling Teeth"

You can help prevent periodontal disease by:

	Visiting your veterinarian for a complete dental exam for your pet.
	Starting a routine pet dental care program at home. Small animal home dental care should include daily (or at least every other day) brushing, using an enzymatic pet toothpaste. Taking an active role in the care of your dog's dental care will help reduce dental disease, bad breath and potential life threatening disease.
	Scheduling regular dental checkups for your pet.

Call for an appointment today!