Like people, our beloved pets face an ever present menace called periodontal disease. It only takes 24 to 48 hours for the plaque from food and bacteria to bind with salts from the saliva to form tartar on the teeth. There have been studies that have linked periodontal disease to heart and kidney disease in pets. You can help your pet live a long and healthy life by doing some preventative measures to keep their teeth clean.

Brushing your pet’s teeth is an easy way to help your pet. Start at an early age if possible, but your pet can become accustomed to teeth brushing at any age. Use toothpaste for pets, as human toothpaste can cause vomiting. Most pet toothpastes have an enzyme in them to help rid the bacteria in their mouth. Use a small toothbrush or gauze and brush all your pets’ teeth. Most pets enjoy the daily routine.

Dry pet food is better for your pet than canned food. There also are prescription foods to help keep plaque buildup down on your pefs teeth. None of these precautions replace regular dental cleaning. Virtually all pets benefit from yearly cleaning starting age 3. Some pets require cleaning every six months due to advanced stage of periodontal disease.

In order to clean your pet’s teeth above and below the gum line, your pet will need to be put under general anesthesia. A complete physical exam and preanesthetic blood work should be done prior to the procedure to make sure your pet is healthy enough for procedure. Gas anesthesia has greatly improved over the years. Virtually the same agents are used in our pets as in the human field. The teeth are cleaned using an ultrasonic cleaner and polished after the cleaning. The procedure takes less than half an hour unless there are other problems that need to be addressed, such as extractions or gum surgery. Your pet is monitored during the procedure, just as in human medicine to help all go smoothly. Pain mods and antibiotics are given and your pet may have special instructions depending if extractions were done or not.

Remember our pets can not tell us if they have a toothache so we need to be on the alert for signs such as bad breath or trouble eating. If you suspect your pet has a dental issue call your veterinarian for dental exam, so a cleaning can be scheduled. It is the best way to show that you care!

Steven E. Elwood

Albert Lea Animal Hospital

Albert Lea