Pet Dental Health

Most people don’t realize that taking care of their pet’s teeth is just as important as taking care of their own. Just like with humans, dental disease in pets can lead to disease elsewhere in the body such as the heart, liver and kidneys. 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some level of dental disease by the time they are 2 years of age. “Dog breath” (halitosis) is not normal and is a sign of dental disease. Usually accompanying halitosis is some level of gingivitis, plaque, tartar or calculus. I find that during an exam, owners will often tell me they just had their dog’s teeth brushed recently and their breath is already stinky again. Well, in reality plaque (the film you feel on your teeth) forms within 24 hours of brushing or cleaning, dental tartar forms in 3 days, and calculus in 2 weeks. So, you can see that it is imperative to have your pet’s teeth brushed daily. If you have never brushed your pet’s teeth then it will take a bit of time and training to help them grow accustomed to it. Starting with just the pet toothpaste on your finger or a piece of gauze is sometimes best tolerated in the beginning. As your pet becomes used to the ritual then you can move up to using a toothbrush that fits their mouth. In addition to daily brushing, getting a full oral examination yearly and anesthetized dental cleanings as recommended by your veterinarian are important as well. The tooth is like an iceberg: we really see only the tip of it and this is usually not enough to get a full picture of their health. During an anesthetized dental cleaning your pet would have full mouth dental radiographs performed that allow better evaluation of the rest of the tooth that is below the gum line. This allows us to see if any roots are abscessed or if there is any bone loss surrounding a tooth that may indicate disease or necessitate extraction.
Cinema Veterinary Centre is located at 23460 Cinema Drive, Suite L in Valencia 91355, (661) 253-9300.

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