Let's see those teeth

The next time Spot or Muffin flashes those pearly whites your way, you may want to take a closer look.

A healthy cat has 30 teeth. And for dogs that number is 42. 

Perhaps it's for so many reasons many owners and veterinarians have begun to pay closer attention to the condition of their four-legged patients' mouths.

These veterinarians agree a dog or cat's dental hygiene, like their human counterparts, should not be neglected.

"Most people are getting to where they treat their pets like children, so they are becoming more like a part of the family," said Juli Marshall, the head technician at Odessa's Eight Street Animal Hospital.

And it seems more and more pet owners have begun to take note that it's more than just a little puppy or kitten breath at stake.

Odessa vet Georgia Dawn Myers of the Grandview Veterinary Clinic said poor dental hygiene in animals could lead to serious medical conditions affecting more than just the mouth.

 Dogs and cats' inherent pack-oriented mentality compels them to "mask" any pain they may be experiencing, Myers said, so they do not appear weak to the rest of the pack.

"If they were a person they would be laid up in bed screaming in pain," she said, "but they don't want to show that pain, so they just make the best of their day."

Myers said this is why owners must remember to check their animals regularly and bring them to the vet for regular checkups.

"Neglect - right up there - No. 1, whether it's intentional or unintentional," she said. "For people who want to do more for their pets, dentistry is definitely where it is to extend the life of their pets."

Myers said tartar buildup on animals' teeth consists of 80 percent bacteria. If left alone long enough, the bacteria could make its way via the gums into the bloodstream where it could begin causing infections and other serious conditions.

But that's not to say owners who keep up with their pets' dental hygiene won't see more immediate benefits.

When asked if she has many clients who bring their pets to her to receive better-looking teeth, Myers nodded her head. 

"If you have a dog that has really bad halitosis, yes, I would say that's for cosmetic reasons," she smiled.

She said veterinarians have covered a tremendous amount of ground in the past few decades when it comes to their four-legged friends' dentistry. As recently as 20 years ago, Myers said, vets treated most dental issues the same way - by pulling teeth.

Today, she said, that is not necessarily still the case.

"There's still a lot of teeth that are pulled," she said, "but now we're in the position to see if we can save them."

She said a truly effective dental treatment regime, however, begins with a proactive approach at an early age.

The best way to care for a dog or cat's teeth is by continual upkeep, including close attention to brushing, diet and basic veterinary care early on.

"There's lots that can be done, but you have to start with a clean mouth," Myers said. "Brushing a dog with lots of tartar, all you're doing is polishing up the tartar."

At her clinic in north Odessa one Friday morning, Myers supervised several veterinary technicians as they performed routine teeth cleaning on Quincy and Nigel, a pair of teacup poodles - Myers said smaller breeds of dogs are more prone to dental disease - that had been anesthetized, which is standard for such procedures. 

She said the typical cleaning begins at about $100, which includes a long list of additional services like anesthesia and blood work, safety measures taken in the dog or cat's interest that go along with the actual cleaning of the teeth.

"It's very labor intensive," Myers said, Nigel lost in La-La Land and open-mouthed in her hands. "And skill. I mean, you don't just walk in here and start doing these."

Myers performs about seven cleanings each week, she said. For each procedure, she asks owners to bring the pet in at about 7:30 a.m. First they'll receive blood work to make sure the animal is in good overall health. Then they are brought out to the table where they are anesthetized - because, she said, animals don't say "Ahhh" - and the teeth are individually cleaned and checked for decay or cracking.

She also checks for gum diseases that could lead to serious health conditions and pulls any teeth that are beyond repair. Such teeth usually come right out, she said. 

"Once the socket has given up on that tooth," Myers said, "you're not going to save it."
She said many dogs have had all of their teeth pulled, but it doesn't slow them down one bit.

"They're probably actually healthier with no teeth than they are with bad teeth," Myers said before adding, "but our whole thing is getting the preventative stuff done early enough."

If and when Myers pinpoints teeth that are in need of further treatment, she then makes a note to an assistant and various treatment options are explored.

Then, the procedure complete, the animal is brought back to consciousness, put in a kennel with a heating pad and monitored until they wake up.

"Until I see big bright eyes and everybody is awake, I don't go to lunch," Myers said, pointing at the kennels filled with an assortment of dogs and cats.

The animals, which usually are ready to go home the afternoon after the procedure, need more than the occasional cleaning at the vet, Myers said, and several options exist, including teeth-brushing.

Myers said most pet stores sell pet toothpaste - it comes in flavors like chicken and beef for dogs - that does not bubble like human toothpaste and therefore is more comfortable for animals.

She said a human toothbrush would work fine for a dog or cat, but older animals tend to be wary of the standard toothbrush, which is why Myers recommended a special brush that goes on an owner's finger and tends to be more acceptable for pets unfamiliar with the process. 

According to the Pets Need Dental Care, Too campaign, a program sponsored by Hill's Pet Nutrition, only 2 percent of dog owners follow through on their promise to brush their dogs' teeth on a daily basis.

Marshall, acknowledging this, said recent years have seen an increase in the number of available alternatives, especially dissolving dental tablets owners can put into their pet's water dish.

If nothing else, she said, owners should lift up their dog or cat's lip frequently to check for anything that looks unusual.

"I know it's hard to brush them," Marshall said, "but most dogs will at least let you look in their mouth."

SIGNS OF DENTAL TROUBLE
>> Slobbering, especially with cats.
>> Dropping food.
>> Don't want you to touch their mouth.
>> Not taking hard treats.
>> Red, swollen or bleeding gums.
>> Broken, cracked teeth.
>> Discoloration of teeth or gums. 
>> Loss of appetite.
>> Bad breath.

Source:
Georgia Dawn Myers, local veterinarian.