Dental treatment for Dogs

We all realise that to keep our pets healthy they need a good diet, water, regular flea and worming treatment, and annual vaccinations. But many pet owners do not realise that dental care is also a very important part of their pet's regular health routine.

Dental Disease – What is it and how does it occur?

A large number of adult dogs suffer with some degree of dental disease. The problem seems more common in smaller dog breeds, and there does seem to be certain breeds which are more susceptible to dental disease. It is also very common among cats. Dental disease occurs when bacteria, mixed with saliva and food particles, builds up around the teeth forming a film called Plaque, this will cause Gingivitis, which is inflammation of the gingival lining (gums), this can be very sore and uncomfortable..Over time this layer of plaque will continue to form around the teeth and eventually will build up into solid lumps of yellowish tartar. If left to develop further the gums will recede, exposing the tooth roots, these will weaken and may even begin to rot, the periodontal ligaments holding the teeth in place will weaken and the teeth will become loose, this advanced stage of dental disease is called Periodontitis. At this point it is possible for bacteria from the teeth to enter the blood stream causing septicaemia and problems with internal organs such as the heart and liver. 

When dental disease begins the only way to rectify or to cure the problem is by taking your pet to a veterinary surgery where a dental must be performed, the teeth can be cleaned and any loose or rotten teeth may be removed. This can only be performed under a general anaesthetic. All anaesthetics carry a small degree of risk; dental disease becomes more prominent and will increase in severity the older the animal becomes and age also adds to the risk factors of an anaesthetic. So prevention of dental disease is always better than a cure.

How to prevent Dental Disease

The most effective way of preventing plaque build up and therefore dental disease is by daily brushing, just as we do for ourselves. There are products available for brushing your pet's teeth and toothpastes specifically designed for pets, our own toothpaste just will not do! It is best to get your pet used to having its teeth cleaned when it is a puppy or kitten, their baby teeth will fall out but it will allow them to become relaxed about having it done, but be aware of brushing when they are teething as their gums will be sore and this may have the opposite effect and they will resent having it done.

If you have an adult dog and are just beginning dental care, then persevere and eventually your pet will get used to it. Begin by getting your pet used to having their muzzle and lips played with, if they don’t mind this then you can move onto brushing. Start with a finger brush, put some paste on the brush, hold the animals mouth closed so they cannot accidentally bite you, or lick the paste off the brush! Then gently brush the teeth all the way to the back molars and don’t forget the incisors and canines. Ideally this should be done daily, but if you can't manage that doing it at least 3 times a week is better than not doing it at all!

If your dog or cat will not tolerate brushing, or it is not feasible to do so, there are other options to try and help keep dental disease at bay. There are many different types of dental chews, the best types will be tough and take a while for the animal to chew through, some are impregnated with toothpaste; these chews allow the dog to break down plaque build up through chewing. There are gels available which when spread on the animal's teeth help dissolve plaque by enzymatic action, this will only be beneficial if the problem is plaque build up and not large amounts of tartar. There are dental toys available to help with dental care, these consist of rubber toys with ridges in, you can put the toothpaste in the ridges and the dog will clean its teeth as it chews on the toy.

Dental Gels;
Logic® Oral Gel

Dental Toys;
kong® Dental Range

Dental Chews Recommended;
Waltham® Royal Canin Oral Chews, Logic® Orozyme Chews,
Virbac Ltd Animal Health Veggie Oral Chews

Of course dry food will help keep plaque at bay, but there are certain foods which are designed to do the job better, there are diets available to buy off the shelf which help prevent plaque build up, and there are prescription dental diets available which are designed to help break down tartar and keep plaque at bay, these bis

cuits break in a linear fashion when bitten, instead of just crumbling like normal biscuits. If your pet has to undergo a general anaesthetic for dental treatment, it is important to know that it is not a cure to the problem, it just gives you a clean slate again, it is vital that you begin dental care as soon as the gums are healed, as plaque will begin forming again and you may be back at square one in a matter of months. The wisest thing to use following dental treatment would be a specific dental diet and combine this with regular brushing.

Foods Recommended;
Hills™ T/D, Waltham® Royal Canin Dental Dry Food

Brushes & Toothpaste;
Virbac Ltd Animal Health C.E.T Brushes and Enzymatic toothpaste

Please see the following instructive video on how to brush your dog's teeth;

007 How To Brush Your Dog's Teeth (Canine Dental)