Feline Dental Disease
Canine Dental Disease
Dental Disease is the Most common Pet Health Problem!
Recent studies show that over 65% dogs and cats over 2
years of age and over 80% of pets 5 years and above are suffering from
moderate to severe dental disease? This preventable situation can lead
to any of the following problems:
- Gingivitis (Gum Disease) and oral pain
- Halitosis (Bad Breath)
- Loss of Appetite
- Early teeth loss
- Oral abscesses
- Spread of bacteria into the Heart, Liver,
Kidneys and other organs
Dental health is one of the cornerstones of good
preventive medicine in dogs and cats. Allowing this disease to go
untreated can lead to pre-mature loss of teeth, oral infections and
sometimes life threatening systemic infections. At ARPH we believe
strongly in preventive health care and have developed our skills and
services to provide you with comprehensive dental services to keep this
problem in check.
Over the past few years, we have created a state of
the art dental operatory that rivals a human dentist's office. Our
equipment list includes high and low speed hand pieces for drilling and
polishing, ultrasonic scaler for deep cleaning of the teeth, and dental
x-ray machine to take diagnostic x-rays of the teeth etc. This
equipment, along with the additional training that both Dr. Shufer and
Dr. Henderson have completed, allows us to develop and perform the
appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan for just about any dental
problem that might arise.
Dental Table Dental X-Ray
Taking X-rays
Life Long Dental Hygiene:
Dental disease is a progressive problem that must be
constantly addressed if we are to maintain a healthy mouth for your
pet. There are a number of things that you, as an owner can do to help
tend to your pet's oral hygiene:
Home Care
Keeps Them Smiling!
You brush, you floss, you Plax and still you have to see your
dentist twice a year to keep you teeth healthy. The same holds true
for your pet’s mouth. Most owners have difficulty finding the time
(or inclination) to brush their pet’s teeth, but if you can do it,
the rewards in terms of your pet’s good health and better breath
will be worth it.
Brushing your pet’s teeth should be done at least once daily as
the plaque bacteria lay down tartar continually and it hardens in
24-48 hours. Brushing should be done in the evening after the food
is taken up. You should use a toothpaste made for pets (We recommend
C.E.T. Poultry flavored) as they taste good to the pets and won’t
foam up like human products.
There are three different products generally used for brushing:
- The Fingerbrush (a small plastic brush that fits on your
fingertip
- Pet toothbrush (angled specifically to let you work in
the mouth without getting your hands in the way)
- Dental pad (an abrasive pad infused with dental polish)
Most of our clients tend to prefer the finger brush but all the
products work well providing you use them!
Brushing should be done in a downward direction away from the
gums. Many pets resist you opening their mouths and so it may be
better to hold their muzzles closed and place your finger (with the
fingerbrush or dental pad on it) or the toothbrush under the gums
and brush blindly. We try to teach puppies and kittens to like this
behavior so it will be a routine procedure for them. If this is a
new concept for your pet, work them into it slowly. Start by just
putting your fingers in their mouth and massaging their gums. Then
let them taste the tooth paste to get used to it. Finally start the
brushing and stop as soon as they have had enough. Gradually
increase the time of the brushing until you can cover the entire
mouth in one setting. If you are uncertain how to do this, our
technicians will be happy to demonstrate for you!
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