Dentistry Care

DORR VETERINARY CLINIC

LASER SURGICAL CENTER

DENTISTRY CARE

What do you think would happen if you never brushed your teeth? Can you imagine having morning breath 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Just the thought of what can occur is enough to disgust most people. So why should our pets be any different? Dental care is just as important to our pets as it is to us and can even have some serious health risks if teeth go without regular care.

Periodontal disease affects 80% of the pet's seen in our practice. Once periodontal disease progresses it becomes harder to treat and can even become irreversible. How can we combat this destructive disease? Our best defenses against periodontal disease pets are daily home dental care along with routine dental exams and cleanings. This is very important especially for our pets that already have the contributing factors of older age and being of a certain breed. Periodontal disease is more often a problem for smaller breeds of dogs and certain cat breeds. Sorry everyone, cats are just as susceptible to periodontal disease as dogs. Many times it is random luck which animals will have a predisposition to periodontal disease. You can influence this sometimes by feeding a good quality diet of hard food, daily use of pet formulated tooth paste, enzymatic dental chews, and using dental chew bones and toys.

WHAT SHOULD OWNERS LOOK FOR?

	Bad breath
	Yellow-brown crust around the gum line
	Bleeding, red or inflamed gums
	Pain when eating, or pawing at the mouth
	Change of Chewing or eating habits
	Tooth loss
	Subdued behavior
	Excessive drooling
	Facial swelling on one or both sides
	Loss of appetite

WHAT CAN OWNERS DO?

STEP 1: VISIT YOUR VETERINARIAN

Every regular exam in our clinic includes a thorough dental exam as well. If we find a sign of disease, we will recommend a treatment plan. It is important for the overall health of your pet that we take care of any dental problems we find. We will also recommend a home care plan that is a key part of keeping your pet healthy.

STEP 2: START AN ORAL CARE ROUTINE AT HOME

Plaque should be removed from your pet's teeth every day before it mineralizes to tartar. Brushing your pet's teeth properly each day will remove plaque buildup. In addition, you can feed specially formulated foods that help reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar from teeth while your pet is eating. Ask us about the best methods of home care for your pet.

STEP 3: SCHEDULE REGULAR DENTAL CHECK-UPS

We monitor the progress of your pet's preventive program, so regular dental checkups are essential, just as twice a year checkups are important for people. For pets that form tartar quickly, or those with a history of oral problems, frequent examinations and cleanings may be required.

TIPS ON BRUSHING YOUR PET'S TEETH

	Introduce a brushing program gradually; training your pet for this procedure may take several days or weeks.
	At first, dip your finger into the toothpaste specifically designed for pets and rub your finger over the pet's mouth and teeth.
	Make these initial sessions brief and positive.
	Introduce gauze on your finger with the toothpaste and begin rubbing the teeth in a circular motion.
	Use a finger brush initially, rather than a bristle brush.
	Using a bristle brush and pet toothpaste, apply a small dab of toothpaste to a moist toothbrush and begin brushing gently.
	DO NOT USE A TOOTHPASTE DESIGNED FOR PEOPLE; it contains ingredients that are toxic to your pet!
	Even if your pet is chewing on the toothbrush, he or she is still brushing their teeth! Just mixing the paste with their saliva will decrease the number of bacteria in their mouth. Any attempt is better than nothing!

If "Jackson" and "Phoenix" like it this much, so will your pets. They started brushing their teeth when they were little kittens and they still love it.