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6 ways to minimize dental visits
by
Ann Brightman
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3. Brushing
up
It may seem unnatural
to brush a dog or cat’s teeth –
after all, when do wild animals ever brush
theirs? The difference is that wild carnivores
live on a totally raw diet, while many
companion animals don’t. “Feral
cats have great teeth, even if they’re
compromised in other ways, because they’ve
been eating mice or birds and using their
jaws and teeth,” says Dr. Marsden.
Even if your animal eats a lot of raw
food, it doesn’t hurt to clean his
teeth once or twice a month. “Home
brushing isn’t essential if you
feed your animal well and give him bones
to chew, but it’s good to do,”
says Dr. Doolittle. If your dog or cat
eats mostly cooked food and is prone to
developing tartar, you might consider
brushing more often, at least once a week.
After all, you wouldn’t stop brushing
your own teeth just because they looked
clean.
The main issue here
is acclimatizing your companion to the
procedure. Most dogs, and nearly all cats,
don’t automatically take kindly
to having their teeth cleaned, but you
can overcome this hurdle if you use the
right approach (see p. 52).
“Even just taking
a gauze pad, wrapping it around your finger,
and wiping the plaque off the teeth is
sufficient,” says Dr. Marsden. “Doing
this a few times a week would be enough
to keep plaque from hardening into tartar.”
4.
Open wide!
Even with the best
home dental care, it’s a good idea
to have a vet check your animal’s
mouth on a regular basis.
 Occasionally,
viral infections, oral cancers, and disorders
involving the immune system can cause
problems in the teeth, gums and other
mouth tissues, so annual examinations
are important. “There are basically
two types of oral inflammation,”
says Dr. Marsden. “There’s
bacteria induced inflammation, and then
there are immune mediated syndromes.”
In between
vet visits, you can perform your own check-ups
to keep tabs on things. Look at the gums
and teeth and keep an eye open for any
sores, inflammation or ulcerations on
other tissues in the mouth. Any potential
problems should be brought to your vet’s
attention as soon as possible.
Three
steps to successful brushing
1. Choose a toothbrush
and toothpaste designed especially
for animals; most pet supply stores
now carry a variety of products (see
page 40 for tips on how to choose
the best ones for your animal). Do
not use human toothpaste.
2. Get your animal accustomed
to having your fingers in his mouth
by rubbing a bit of the toothpaste
on his gums and teeth. Act like you’re
giving him a treat, and praise him
lavishly so he comes to associate
the experience with something pleasant.
3. Start by brushing
only a couple of teeth at a time,
and keep the initial sessions short.
Patience is the key. As your companion
gets used to the idea, gradually work
up to brushing more teeth during each
session, until you’re doing
as many as possible. Focus on the
base of each tooth, where it meets
the gumline, and don’t worry
about reaching the inside surfaces.
“The problems are usually on
the outer parts of the teeth,”
says Dr. Marsden. “The tongue
seems to do a good job of keeping
the teeth clean on the inside.” |
5. No shot
in the arm
Over-vaccination has
been linked to a whole host of health
problems in dogs and cats, and periodontal
disease is no exception. “Minimizing
vaccines is healthier all around,”
says Dr. Doolittle. ‘It improves
overall well being, and leads to healthier
teeth and gums.” Dr. Marsden adds:
“With immune mediated oral disorders,
it’s entirely plausible that excessive
vaccination would aggravate these tendencies,
since vaccines come packaged with immune
stimulants. It’s common experience
and amply recorded that if you vaccinate
an animal prone to an auto-immune or immune
mediated disorder, that syndrome will
ramp itself up in the not-too-distant
future.” Stick to the core vaccines
for your dog or cat and ask your vet about
having titer testing done in place of
annual boosters.
6. Toys
and treats
Most commercial animal
treats contribute to dental disease, but
more and more natural treats are coming
on the market that not only give your
animal something to crunch or chew but
are also made from healthy ingredients
that won’t harm him or his teeth.
Start by reading labels and avoid anything
that contains sugar or artificial ingredients.
“I always recommend no-grain treats
as I believe grains add to inflammatory
processes in the body,” says Dr.
Doolittle. It’s also a good idea
to steer clear of anything made of rawhide
– these treats may give your animal
lots of chewing exercise, but many dogs
tear off pieces and swallow them, and
that can cause serious intestinal problems.
“Ice cubes flavored with chicken
or beef broth are good for crunching,”
says Dr. Doolittle.
“As for
toys, anything that gives an animal’s
jaw a workout will help wipe off plaque
and provide mechanical stimulation,”
says Dr. Marsden. The best choices include
things like rubber bones and Kongs –
stuffing the latter with a bit of peanut
butter or some quality kibble will encourage
even more gnawing and chewing.
As anyone who has
dental problems knows, a sore mouth is
no fun. A healthy mouth can help maintain
a healthy body, so you owe it to your
best friend to ensure his teeth and gums
stay as clean and strong as possible.
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Published in the February/March
2007 issue of Animal Wellness
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