By Dr. Bruce Carstens
Willow Rock Pet Hospital
People used to laugh when I told them I cleaned dogs' and cats' teeth. That stopped when they went home and smelled the breath of the pet who sleeps in bed with them. And if they flipped up the lip and looked at the back teeth, the problem became obvious. Imagine if your kids never brushed their teeth, ate only processed foods, and when he or she smiled at you, you could see gum recession, gingivitis, brown bacterial deposits and missing or cracked teeth. This might be ugly for you to see, but imagine how they would feel living with these sore gums and teeth. Besides the cosmetic drawbacks, waves of bacteria are absorbed through the inflamed gums into the bloodstream and land in the kidneys and on the heart valves.
You may wonder how did animals ever get along without us? Well, there are many reasons dental problems are worse in domestic pets than wild animals. When an animal lives by hunting, it must tear into its prey with the teeth. This abrasive cutting and chewing of hide and bones keeps teeth sparkling white. In the wild, there are very few simple sugars in the diet for mouth bacteria to feed upon. Finally, the natural life span is much shorter in the wild. By ten years, few wild dogs or cats are left to suffer periodontitis. We feed our pets a balanced diet which is very easy to swallow whole and doesn't offer much exercise. In addition, the sugars in canned foods are ideal for getting stuck between teeth and bacteria love to grow in them and invade the gum tissue. Many pets live to 13-17 years, and proper dental care can help you keep those teeth in their head much longer.
There are many toys made for dogs to chew on which exercise the teeth and gums. Stay away from rawhides if your dog tears into it and it is gone in seconds, though. A better bet is a hard rubber bone or chew toy. There are special tartar-control diets made for dogs and cats. These have a larger kibble which the pet must chew to swallow. As your pet bites down, the nugget doesn't shatter like most hard food, until the tooth has gone completely through it, scrubbing itself clean. Ask your veterinarian if you should feed these as a complete diet or as a supplement, like brushing the teeth.
There are many pet toothpastes now. These don't contain fluoride, which can make your pet sick if they swallow your own toothpaste. They do have an enzyme which breaks down bacterial deposits before they harden into plaque. Most have tasty flavors like poultry or fish, and can be applied with a toothbrush, or a piece of gauze or just with your finger.
Another product which is easy to use consists of rawhide chews with an antibacterial enzyme. These are fed as a treat to dogs or cats, and there is no work for you to do. The chewing removes food deposits. Finally, you might consider one of the "mouthwash" type formulas. These are squirted between teeth and gums to wash food and bacterial deposits off teeth in any size mouth. As you can see, there are many ways to keep your pet's teeth and gums as healthy as your own, just ask your vet which is right for your situation.
My web page has some beautiful pictures of a dog mouth before and after ultrasonic cleaning, showing the difference a good dental prophylaxis can make. Check it out at www.willowrockpet.com. Next month I would like to answer a question from a child under 12 out there, so I am offering a prize of a stuffed dog or cat to the kid with the best hand-written question. Drop it by my office anytime. I have found that kids ask the most honest, straightforward questions!
Send in your Pet-Care Questions: Each month Dr. Carstens will answer your questions about pet care on this page. Dr. Carstens can be reached at 630-9234, or mail your questions to Willow Rock Pet Hospital, 6661-M Stanford Ranch Road, Rocklin, CA 95677.
About the Author: Dr. Bruce Carstens graduated from the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in 1991. He and his wife have been residents of Stanford Ranch since 1992 and have two children at Breen Elementary. Dr. Carstens opened his own office, Willow Rock Pet Hospital in the Food Source Plaza in June, 1997.