So, what is dental disease?
A normal mouth is full of bacteria. Every day, these bacteria attach to the surface of the teeth and band together to form “biofilms” which act as a layer of clothing on the teeth. This layer is called “plaque”. When plaque makes contact with the gumline, we see inflammation, or “gingivitis”. Over time, plaque will mineralize and harden, to form “tartar” or “calculus”. This tartar then serves as the perfect surface for further plaque and biofilm formation, which turns into a vicious cycle and worsening of our disease.
Over a period of months or years, the accumulation of plaque, gingivitis and tartar can become quite severe. Eventually, we start to see receding gums, deep pocketing of the gums around the teeth, loss of bone around the teeth due to inflammation and infection, and then increased mobility of the teeth. This process can be very painful for our pets.
Besides the pain, infection in the mouth will mean that your pet has to deal with a constant onslaught of bacteria by swallowing it and possibly entering the bloodstream due to inflammation in the gums and bone in the mouth. This can lead to bigger problems elsewhere in the body, including infection in the heart (pericarditis), and damage to the liver and kidneys.
Did you know that dental disease occurs in more than 75% of pets over the age of 3 years? It is one of the most common diseases we see in small animals, even though it is one of the easiest to prevent. Yikes!
One of the best ways to prevent dental disease in our dogs, cats and ferrets, is to engage in regular at-home teeth cleaning.
You can brush your pets’ teeth with a finger brush, pet toothbrush, or children’s toothbrush, using pet-safe toothpaste. Some human toothpaste can contain artificial sweeteners such as xylitol which is very toxic and potentially lethal to dogs.
When selecting a pet-safe toothpaste, it is also important to pick one that states it is “enzymatic”. Not only is the mechanical action of the toothbrush helpful, but enzymatic toothpaste continues even after the brushing is done by reducing bacterial counts, removing plaque, and preventing tartar formation. Brushing your pets’ teeth usually requires training and a lot of patience, but with hard work and dedication, it can become a part of any pet’s daily routine.
If tooth brushing is just not an option for you, there are other products that can be used daily to help reduce the cycle of plaque accumulation. This includes the use of veterinary-specific dental wipes and sprays.
Water additives and mouth flushes are available, but we tend to use these as a last resort as they are not always effective and can cause gastrointestinal upset in some animals.
Another fantastic way to prevent plaque accumulation and tartar formation is to feed your pet a special dental diet.
These diets generally work in one of two ways, either via mechanical or enzymatic action. The “mechanical” dental diets (such as prescription Hill’s T/D) use larger kibbles that are specially formulated to increase contact time with the teeth and have an abrasive action on the surface of the teeth to remove plaque. The “Enzymatic” dental diets (such as prescription Royal Canin Dental) formulate their diets with special enzymes that help to kill bacteria and decrease biofilm formation, and hence reduce plaque. These diets are available for cats and dogs.
It is important to know that not all dental diets are created equally, and just because a diet says it is good for the teeth, doesn’t mean they have trials to back up these claims. Always do your research! When in doubt, call your veterinary clinic and ask for their recommendations.
A staff pet favourite, and a kibble Neighbourhood Veterinary Hospital often use as treats in our exam rooms at NVH, is Hill’s T/D. Check out this video on how these kibbles work to keep your pet's teeth clean!
Dental diets, unfortunately, do not work for all pets, as some animals do not chew their food. These pets are better suited to the other preventative measures mentioned above.
In addition to dental diets, or as an add-on to a different diet, special chews and treats can be used to help reduce plaque buildup and tartar formation.
Just like dental diets, not all dental chews or treats are as effective as others. It is important to do your research or to ask your vet so that you can find the most effective products for your pets, and so that you do not waste time and money on something that will never yield results.
For cats, Neighbourhood Veterinary Hospital recommends treats as opposed to chews. Some of our favourite products, and ones that are recommended by veterinary dentists, include CET IntelliDent Cat bites and Greenies Dental treats. Dental diet kibbles can also function as treats, especially if your cat is not already eating this food for their primary diet, as they will then be new and exciting!
For dogs, dental chews are best. Some of our favourite products, and again ones that are recommended by veterinary dentists and certified by the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council), include CET Enzymatic Oral Hygiene Chews and CET VeggieDents.
Other products such as Bully Sticks and pigs/cows ears can be used as well, but they can cause gastrointestinal upset, and they should only be given with supervision as they can be a choking hazard.
The team at Neighbourhood Veterinary Hospital does not recommend feeding bones or antlers for your pets as these carry a high risk of tooth fracture, and can be dangerous if swallowed.
What if we are past the prevention of dental disease? What if we want a clean slate to start engaging in all of these preventative options?
It is time for a COHAT (Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatments), completed by a veterinarian.
After a dental examination, your veterinarian will be able to plan for a dental procedure and provide an estimate of the cost. These procedures involve general anesthesia, a thorough oral exam, completion of dental radiographs, a professional ultrasonic scale and prophylactic polish, followed by extraction of any teeth that are too diseased to stay in the mouth. Neighbourhood Veterinary Hospital recommends engaging in pre-anesthetic bloodwork before these procedures and having a recent whole-body examination so that we can ensure a safe general anesthetic for your pet.
“Anesthesia-free dentals” completed at pet stores or by small dental cleaning companies are becoming much more common and Neighbourhood Veterinary Hospital does not recommend these procedures. The majority of the dental disease will be missed as later stages of disease exist under the gumlines and can only be examined with special equipment and dental x-rays.
Anesthesia-free dental procedures involve forcefully restraining your pet on their backs, forcing their mouths open, and then cleaning their teeth above the gumline (which is not the area of concern in dental disease). Your pet will also not have any throat protection or pain relief, which increases stress and discomfort, and can put your pet at risk for aspiration pneumonia.
Furthermore, these companies are not regulated by the College of Veterinarians of B.C, so no education or training is needed in order for people to offer these services. After an anesthesia-free dental cleaning is completed, your pet’s teeth may appear cleaner externally, but unfortunately can still be left with severe dental disease below the gumline.
As always, please contact your veterinarian for further information on any of the above topics!
The Pet Health column was brought to you by Neighbourhood Veterinary Hospital
