Dental Hygiene For Your Dog
Like us, dogs start with deciduous or baby teeth, which fall out anytime from the age of four to five months, to be replaced with a set of permanent teeth. Sometimes, especially in the smaller breeds, the canine teeth are retained, and the new teeth grow down alongside. This can cause infection and discomfort, especially when eating, as food can get trapped between the teeth. Usually they eventually fall out naturally, but sometimes will need to be removed under general anaesthetic.
As with people, dogs can suffer plaque and tartar, leading to gum disease and loss of teeth. This makes it difficult for them to eat, and can cause secondary problems such as mouth ulcers, gingivitis, stomatitis, (infection), and dental abscesses. It is important to encourage healthy teeth, by regular check ups, and using preventative products. The solution for them, is the same as for us, good management, cleaning and using teeth friendly toys to keep their sparklers bright and white!
So How Do I know If My Dog Needs A Dental
Symptoms can be:
l A sore mouth.
l Hypersalivation, (excessive dribbling).
l Smelly breath, (halitosis).
l And in extreme cases systemic, (generalised infection), making them quite poorly.
l Swelling on the side of the face, if an abscess has formed.
It is important to check his mouth regularly to check:
l Are his teeth white and clean looking?
l Are his gums pink and healthy, or red and sore?
l Does he object to you touching his mouth?
l Is there an unpleasant odour.
So My Dog Needs A Dental, What next?
Make an appointment for the vet to thoroughly check your dog, and assess his general health and dental profile. It is likely you will be offered a blood screen, so we can ensure there are no underlying problems, particularly with his liver or kidneys. The vet will book you an appointment to have the bloods taken, usually in the morning on an empty stomach. Once the results are evaluated, we can then book him in for dental treatment. The vet will give you a full run down of what to expect, and what costs will be incurred.
The Procedure.
For dogs, having a dental, is a process much like we would experience, except of course dogs do not willingly sit in a chair and open their mouths for us.
They require a general anaesthetic, so their teeth can be scaled and polished. If there is a heavy
build up of tartar, it is not always possible to tell what condition the teeth are in. Therefore, sometimes once anesthetised, more extractions are required than expected. Extractions can be difficult as their teeth can break, leaving the roots in the gum, which can lead to nasty infections and abscesses. Some teeth have two or three roots, and even diseased teeth can be tough to remove!
Today this is not the problem it once was, as we can use an electric dental drill to safely remove the teeth root by root.
Once the teeth have been scaled and all the tartar removed, any extractions done, they are polished in the same way ours would be.
So How Can I Help At Home?
As our dogs get older, their internal organs naturally age with time, so prevention is always better than cure. To this end, it is good to get your dog used to having his teeth cleaned on a daily basis, so he accepts it as part of his daily routine. This prevents the build up of plaque and tartar, and reduces the need to have a full dental and anaesthetic later in life. It is also important to have regular dental check ups, so any problems like gingivitis, (gum infection), build up of tartar or gum erosion can be detected and dealt with quickly. At Westhorne, these can be done by a nurse, who can refer you to the vet if further action is required.
Products That Can Help.
See below a canine toothpaste and brush set, and an oral mouth product that help prevent dental decay.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT WITH A NURSE TO ASSESS YOUR DOG'S TEETH
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020 3417 6433