Ponsonby Tails - October 2008

Monday, Sep 29, 2008

If you were asked to name the most common disease of adult cats and dogs, what would be your answer? Well, if you said dental disease, you would be correct. Studies indicate 85% of our adult pets have some degree of periodontal disease!
Dental disease can predispose your pet to several serious conditions including: orthnorm

Heart Valve Disease
Kidney Disease
Liver Disease
Bladder Infection

We pride ourselves at Ponsonby Veterinary Centre at being proactive with regard to your pets dental care. During the month of October we are offering a Dental Consultation and a bag of either Royal Canin Dental 1.5kg or a bag of Hills t/d 1.8kg for just $50!

Periodontal disease

Phase 1-Dental plaque
Micro-organisms naturally present in the mouth cavity combine with the saliva and food debris to form a film on the tooth's surface called dental plaque. As it is invisible to the naked eye it needs to be dyed in order to be seen.
Phase 2 TartarAfter brushing, plaque reappears after 6 hours. If plaque is not removed (through daily brushing), it then mineralises in the presence of salivary calcium and gives rise to tartar formation, a hard, brown deposit on the tooth's surface.
This doesn't disappear with simple brushing of the teeth, but requires scaling by your vet. The development of bacteria results in inflamed gums (red and swollen), which can lead to a loss in appetite and painful chewing. Bacteria will gradually contribute to the destruction of the tissue supporting the tooth. Bad Breath is the result of foul smelling sulphur compounds released by these bacteria.
Phase 3 Loosening of teethIn the advanced phase, bacteria develop at the base of the root of the tooth and attack the bone into which the tooth is embedded. The risk of abscess formation is high.

Clinical signs to look out for are:

Bad breath (halitosis)
Discoloured tooth/teeth
Broken tooth/teeth
Excessive drooling
Reluctance to eat, especially dry food, or to play with chew toys
Chewing with of favouring one side of the mouth
Pawing at or rubbing the muzzle/mouth
Bleeding from the mouth
A mass/growth in the mouth
Chronic sneezing or discharge from the nose
Sudden change in behaviour (aggressive or withdrawn)
Chronic eye infections or drainage.

Home care options

Dental diets - Royal Canin, Hills Science diet and Advance produce specific diets for the reduction of dental plaque and tartar. The texture and shape of the kibbles have been designed in such a way that they produce a gentle abrasive or brushing effect on the teeth during chewing. They have also added sodium polyphosphate which binds with calcium, making calcium unavailable for the production of tartar.

Tooth brushing - We stock a range of toothbrushes and paste specifically designed for cats and dogs that are very useful for dental care. Daily brushing is the single most effective way of preventing dental disease in your pet.

Dental rinses/sprays/solutions - Antibacterial oral rinses and solutions that can be added to drinking water of applied directly to the teeth and gums to reduce the amount of plaque buildup.

Dental chews - Greenies are a dental chew that have been formulated to aid in the reduction of dental disease.

DOs and DONTs of Dental Homecare

Try to perform dental homecare at least once daily
Be patient when training your pet to tolerate the brush and toothpaste.
Reward your pet with a treat after brushing, such as giving a toy or taking for a walk.
Let your dog play with rubber balls rather than tennis balls (tennis balls tend to be very abrasive on tooth enamel).

DONT

Think that bad breath is normal
Use a human toothpaste on your pet
Attempt to clean the inner surface of your pets teeth
Perform dental homecare for the first week after a full dental at the hospital
Consider dental home care as an alternative to full dental cleaning if your pet has more advanced dental disease.
Let your dog play with or carry stones in its mouth - these often damage teeth