Pets :: February/March 2007
Pets Need Dental Care, Too…
Why A Preventive Approach to Your Pet's Dental Health is Critical to Living a Longer, Healthier Life
According to the American Veterinary Dental Society (AVDS), oral disease is the number one problem diagnosed in dogs and cats. More than 85% of dogs and cats that are over 4 years old have a condition in which bacteria attack the soft gum tissue, may injure major organs (heart, lungs, liver and bladder) and can shorten your pet’s life.
The reality is that our pets are animals - domesticated - and the shape of their teeth, how they use them, as well as their diet, naturally allow them to build up tartar on their teeth. Most of us would consider it to be a bad idea if we did not get our own teeth cleaned annually - especially if we have any dental issues or pain. Unlike animals in the wild who only live a few years and do not outlive their teeth, our pets most likely will outlive their teeth without proper maintenance. Our pets can not talk to us and let us know that they are having pain in their mouth, so many older pets have untreated pain.
Most people do not realize that teeth and gum issues are actually diseases within our pets’ mouths. Our pets’ mouths are the door into their bodies. As such, if bacteria and the associated diseases build up in their mouth, it will naturally enter their bodies. If untreated, bacteria can commonly affect your pet’s heart, liver, kidneys and lungs. Having a mouth that is clean and free of disease is essential to your pet’s overall wellness throughout their lives.
When our pets experience pain - it takes away from their energy and vitality. Pet owners who have older pets can be concerned because their pets are losing energy and becoming lethargic. After a thorough teeth cleaning and treating the issues in the pet’s mouth, the pet’s energy level greatly increases and owners describe their pet “as young again”.
As part of our mission to help your pets live a longer, healthier, happier life, we recommend a three (3) step program to help prevent oral disease:
- Annual professional Wellness Dental Cleaning to ensure healthy teeth and gums.
- A home dental care routine that includes regular brushing and a nutritious diet to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy between check ups and Wellness Dental Cleanings
- Twice a year Wellness Examinations by your Veterinarian to monitor your pet’s dental health
What are the features of a Wellness Dental Cleaning?
The Wellness Dental Cleaning process is a proactive way to prevent or decrease dental disease in your pet. It is surgery with anesthesia involved - this makes it a serious procedure. Some Veterinarians do not use anesthesia - we believe that a thorough and proper teeth cleaning can only be performed if your pet is completely still.
Our Wellness Dental Cleaning includes the following:
- Your pet is anesthetized to allow for a thorough teeth clean. A surgery technician will constantly be with your pet and monitor their vital signs while they are going under anesthesia.
- The dental technician will use an ultrasonic hand scaler to remove tartar from the surface of your pet’s teeth.
- *The dental technician will use a mechanical scaler to remove tartar from around and beneath your pet’s gumline. This tarter is not visible to you if you look into your pet’s mouth and is the most damaging to the tooth.
- The dental technician will polish your pet’s teeth creating a smooth surface to decrease the possibility of bacteria build up in the future.
- The technician will do a medical antiseptic rinse to remove most bacteria from your pet’s mouth and help delay the build up of future tartar on your pet’s teeth.
- Finally, the dental technician will apply fluoride to strengthen your pet’s teeth, desensitize their exposed roots and further decrease infection.
- Then, a recovery technician will place the pet into a warm heated snuggle blanket so your pet is comfortable as they awaken from the anesthesia.
- The recovery technician will constantly stay with your pet and monitor their vital signs as they awaken from the anesthesia - going under and coming out of anesthesia is the most critical times of surgery. That is why someone is ALWAYS with your pet.
What are the benefits of a Wellness Dental Cleaning?
We have found that when Wellness Dental Cleanings are performed on an annual basis it actually saves money for the owner and also improves the health of your pet. This is because preventative dental procedures are much less expensive than reactive dental procedures - treating irreversible dental disease including having to remove teeth is much more expensive. Preventative dental procedures can only be done before irreversible dental disease sets in.
The benefits include the following:
- Reduces the potential for bad breath; lets you enjoy a closer relationship with your pet
- Reduces the potential for diseases in the mouth and spread of bacteria to other parts of the body
- Greatly reduces the possibility for the expensive cost associated with irreversible gum disease as well as the costs of having to remove teeth - prevention costs less than treating irreversible diseases
- Most importantly - it greatly increases the possibility for a happier, healthier, pain free energetic pet — this is the mission of our wellness programs
During the month of February, we are offering a 10% discount on dental services in support of National Pet Dental Health month. Schedule your pet’s dental check up today.
Donna Namey, V.M.D. graduated with highest honors from the University of Pennsylvania in 1991 and is Chief of Staff and Co-Owner of Windcrest Animal Hospital. She has a special interest in Ultrasonography.
WINDCREST ANIMAL HOSPITAL
3705 Lancaster Pike
Wilmington, Delaware 19805
(302) 998-2995
24 Hour Emergency
HOCKESSIN ANIMAL HOSPITAL
643 Yorklyn Road
Hockessin, Delaware 19707
(302) 239-9464
TALLEYVILLE VETERINARY HOSPITAL
3001 Concord Pike
Wilmington, Delaware 19803
(302) 478-0648
