DENTAL CARE FOR YOUR PET
Susceptibility
CATS
Felines are natural carnivores in the wild, chewing raw flesh off
bones. This creates a natural cleaning process through physical
abrasion and salivation. Commercial foods for pet cats reduce the need
for gnawing, especially in the case of moist food which means that the
natural abrasion and salivation effects are much diminished. The
result, however, is that dental disease in cats is extremely common,
the vast majority of pet cats requiring significant veterinary
intervention at some stage in their lives.
DOGS
Canines are naturally scavengers and so like cats naturally chew flesh
from bones, creating a natural cleaning process through physical
abrasion and salivation. Although dogs are often fed a less rich and
courser diet, many still succumb to the same disease processes as cats.
Signs of Dental Disease
In many cases the first signs that are presented to a veterinarian are
halitosis, or facial swelling, related to dental abscess. However,
regular checks can reveal gingivitis, a simple reddening of the gums.
In later stages of the disease a marked increase in halitosis is
usually evident and increased drooling and tenderness when eating,
maybe favoring one side of the mouth. As an abscess grows facial
swelling and marked pain are more obvious. At this stage it is often
too late to treat!
Diseases Progress
Gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) is where the disease usually
begins, especially affecting the gum margin where the gums and teeth
meet. The gingivitis can be caused simply by sweet or rich food and
insufficient salivation. Food left on the teeth leads to plaque, the
soft deposit rich in bacteria that will stimulate further gingivitis as
well as cavities and hard, calcified, brown, tartar similar to that
which can affect people.
Eventually ‘periodontitis’ develops, a weakening of the attachments
between the tooth and its socket accompanied by recession of the gums
and eventually abscess and death of the tooth roots.
Prevention
There is no need for the majority of pets to suffer.
Diet is the first key to prevention from the time of weaning, simply by
avoiding rich, soft food. Specific diets have been formulated which
encourage salivation by chewing and help to clean the inter-dental
space (between the teeth) by the shape of their biscuits. Enzymes may
also be incorporated into the food to assist with the action of natural
saliva eg. ‘Hills t/d’, Royal Canin Waltham
Chews can be helpful in stimulating salivation and
physically cleaning the teeth. Some of these are available with added
salivary enzymes (‘CET’)to further assist with dental health, others
are shaped and textured to be beneficial like Royal Canin’s Mini Oral
bar (Denta Rask). However, care should be taken as some chews, like
bones, can be swallowed to form potentially harmful foreign
bodies.
Toothpastes and Brushing. Toothpastes have also been
formulated containing enzymes to assist the action of saliva. Many
clients are skeptical about brushing their pets’ teeth, but the pastes
are formulated to taste good to dogs and cats and they do not require
the fine abrasive action of brushing. Paste such as ‘Logic Oral
Hygiene Gel’ and ‘CET pet toothpaste’ can be applied by finger to the
gums and some cats enjoy the taste enough to lick it off themselves
when applied to a paw.
Treatment
In the early stages of disease changes in diet, the use of chews,
toothpaste and brushing can reverse the disease.
In more severe cases dental work under anaesthesia is required. The
following procedures are then possible:-
Scaling and polishing is commonly practiced by veterinary surgeries to
remove tartar using ultrasonic descalers and polishing machines similar
to those employed by human dentists.
Fillings and restoration work are carried out by a limited number of
(mostly) specialist veterinary surgeons.
Extractions are normally performed when cavities have developed or
tooth roots become exposed or abscessed. Many veterinary surgeons take
the motto “if in doubt pull it out.” This may appear drastic but is
usually justified by concern over repeating anaesthetics too
frequently.
RABBITS are natural herbivores and have a
very different type of dentition to dogs or cats. Their teeth consist
of incisors at the front, and cheek teeth, all of which continue to
grow throughout life. Their teeth are constantly wearing down by
abrasion of the upper and lower teeth against each other whilst
chewing.
Susceptibility
Problems frequently originate from malocclusion, a condition where the
teeth do not occlude, top against bottom, in a normal, even fashion.
Malocclusion can be genetic, often affecting the cheek teeth first, or
be caused by injury and infection.
Signs of disease are often drooling and increased salivation, but may
also be diarrhoea or simply a loss of weight. Problems may be obvious
when incisor teeth are overgrown, but this is not the case for cheek
teeth.
Disease Progress
The effect of malocclusion is ineffective grinding down resulting in
overlong teeth, often with sharp points and often pointing in the wrong
direction (either into the tongue, lips, or gums). In the early stage
of disease the teeth can be cut, ground or filed down to form the
correct pattern of occlusion. However, as the disease progresses this
can become ineffective and teeth may need to be removed. Removal can
result in difficulties digesting food. Early treatment of the problems
is therefore always recommended.
Prevention
This is generally by ensuring a suitable diet such as Burgess Supa
Excel, allowing plenty of fresh food and fibre. However, when a
genetic or inherent growth problem is present usually only regular
trimming of the teeth is effective.
Treatment
Veterinary surgeons will trim the front teeth using various
techniques. The cheek teeth can be filed, ground or cut to improve
occlusion. All of these procedures are performed under general
anaesthetic.
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