Post by DogGoneGood on Apr 14, 2009 13:42:01 GMT -5
Bad Breath is a Bad Sign for Pets
Animal Tracks
Kathi Travers
Kathi Travers
Prince George Citizen
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
One of the most overlooked part of your pet is the mouth, that is until you receive that smelly wet kiss.
Did you know that 95 per cent of dogs and cats suffer from varying degrees of dental disease?
It is the most common illness in dogs and cats. Without treatment, it can lead to more serious illness of the kidneys, liver, and heart.
Besides the breath smell, another indicator would be a change in behavior or eating habits, even depression.
Pets, unlike those of us who can brush our teeth, floss, and do the mouthwash thing, rely on our help to keep them healthy.
It's part of responsible pet ownership. When food particles accumulate between tooth surfaces causing bacteria to form a plaque of yellow film on the teeth, the road to dental disease begins. Tartar forms as the plaque hardens. In turn, it can infect the gums by causing pus pockets to develop under the gum line. Thus begins a case of Gingivitis, a full blown periodontal disease.
Cats, and smaller dog breeds, such as Yorkies, Maltese, Pekingese, etc., have a tendency for higher incidence of dental problems.
That is why our vet check-up is so essential. Often we miss a specific problem which your doctor can pick up right away.
Please do't be afraid when your vet tells you your pet needs to be admitted for a dental procedure.
Ask lots of questions. Your pet is generally put under a light anesthesia to eliminate pain.
Many times, when your pet is in surgery for another problem, your doctor may recommend some preventitive dental work.
Pets that eat just dry food have a much lower rate of dental problems than any pet that eats exclusively canned food or table food.
Brushing teeth should be part of your pet care.
I know some folks find this very strange, but it is really something that has to be done.
When you get that puppy, or kitten, start eary by putting your fingers in their mouth to get them used to it.
Idealy this should be done once a day, but no less than twice a week. Then make the transition to either a baby toothbrush, or a finger toothbrush, a little rubber tip that fits onto your finger. A simple gauze pad also works.
What about toothpaste? Never use human toothpaste!
We can swish and rinse out, our pets cannot.
Human toothpaste has a high detergent content which can make our pets very ill. There are pet toothpastes on the market.
Making a paste from baking soda and water is also effective. The taste is not so great, but few of us view our tooth paste as a tasty treat.
What about biscuits?
What pet doesn't like them?
Whether or not they work as a beneift to teeth is another matter. According to several vets I spoke with, there is no evidence of biscuits serving any purpose in preventing dental disease.
They crumble too fast, reducing any grinding action.
The pet chews on teh ends to get at the marrow thus grinding away some of that built up tartar.
Don't ever give a bone that will splinter. I personally do not give bones because our pups are small and I am paranoid.
There are dental toys available, which are beneficial, such as Kong Toys or Nyla Bones.
There are also "dentabones" made by several companies. These are not dog biscuits, but specific bones made for tartar control.
Friskies makes a product for cats called Dental Diet, a product that is sprinkled on your cat's regular food. Several other companies, such as Hill's or Medi-Cal, produce dental diets designed specifically to alleviate and prevent dental disease.
Max is overdue for his dental exam, but today I will call and schedule his appointment. I trust his veterinarian even though I will worry about him, and drive the whole hospital nuts while he is there for the day.
It is the right thing to do and I want a healthy pet that gives sweet kisses.
E-mail me at tracks@jokat.ca and let's talk animals.
