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Dental Care in Dogs
Oral disease is the most common health problem diagnosed in dogs, therefore it is essential to provide our dogs with good dental care, both professionally as well as at home.
What is a good dental care programme:
- Daily oral care at home.
- Veterinary dental cleaning as advised.
- Regular visits to your vet for an oral exam to identify potential problems such as plaque and tartar build-up, gingivitis, perio-dontal disease, and fractured or abscessed teeth.
Various dental diseases in dogs:
- Plaque: It is the gummy layer that forms on teeth. This layer is a mixture of bacteria, minerals from saliva, and sticky food particles. Routine home care can prevent and remove plaque.
- Tartar: Plaque, which gradually hardens and turns brown is termed tartar. As more forms, it gets under the gums, carrying infection. In time, the teeth loosen and become painful. Eventually they fall out. If you can prevent plaque from forming or remove it while still soft, you can prevent most dental problems.
- Gingivitis: This is an inflammation of the gum caused by tartar build up. There is reddening of the gums adjacent to the teeth. It also causes bad breath. It is necessary to remove the plaque with special instruments called scalers, and then polish the teeth to avoid gingivitis.
- Periodontal Disease: Tartar if not removed, builds up under the gums. It separates the gums from the teeth to form "pockets" and encourages bacterial growth. The damage becomes irreversible, and is termed "periodontal" disease. It is very painful and can lead to loose teeth, abscesses. If not treated, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream and can cause infection of the heart valves, liver, and kidneys.
Daily oral care at home:
Home oral care includes routine examinations of your dog's mouth and brushing it’s teeth at least twice a week.
Look for warning signs of gum disease such as bad breath, red and swollen gums, a yellow-brown crust of tartar around the gum-line, and pain or bleeding when you touch the gums. Watch out for discoloured, fractured, or missing teeth. Any bumps or masses within the mouth should be checked by a veterinarian.
Tooth brushing:
Tooth brushing should be regular, at least twice a week. Special toothbrushes and poultry flavoured toothpastes are available for dogs. Various disposable sponges and pads are also available. What to use depends on the health of your dog’s gums, the size of your dog’s mouth.
Other dental care items:
- Water-piks: Chlorhexidine is added to the water to kill the bacteria in the mouth, and the water jet removes the plaque. Useful for dogs with bleeding and diseased gums.
- Food: Studies show that hard kibbles are somewhat useful at keeping plaque from accumulating on the teeth. Avoid feeding dogs table scraps or sweet treats because they can increase the build up of plaque and tartar.
- Dental chews: Do not use toys that are abrasive and can erode the teeth. If your dog is a very aggressive chewer, choose toys that are soft, so that it does not break a tooth. Rawhide or other chews that soften on chewing are a good option.
Dental problems develop gradually, so it is easy to miss initial signs, like reluctance to eat or slowdown of activity.
Dogs with healthy mouths live longer and are in general healthier and happier.