By Dr. Johnathan Pierce
Dental Health
When you smell your pet’s breath does it make you say “WOOF!” or “MEOW!”? This is one of the first clues that your pet’s dental health needs attention. Take a moment and (if your pet will let you) lift his or her lip and take a look at the teeth. You may notice brown to tan buildup, puffy red gums, or even notice grey or yellow colored buildup around the teeth rather than nice pearly whites. This is what is known as periodontal disease (PDD) and has many degrees of severity.
There are four grades of PDD and each is very important to address. Grade 1 is the least severe and is hallmarked by mild tartar buildup and mildly inflamed gum tissue. Grades 2 and 3 are hallmarked by having moderate to severe tartar buildup and possibly some early gingival recession. Grade 4 is the most severe where the teeth may be entirely surrounded by tartar with moderate to severe gingival recession.
Unfortunately, our pets don’t brush their own teeth or floss, so bacteria build up in the mouth and on the surfaces of the teeth. Here bacteria create a protein barrier called plaque that is very hard to remove. Without brushing or some other method of removal such as chewing a hard kibble diet or chewing on hard mildly abrasive chew toys, the plaque is turned into tartar as the bacteria excrete hardening minerals from their own digestion of food particles left over in the mouth. Early prevention through brushing and having early and regular dental cleanings when signs are not severe is the best way to keep your pet’s mouth healthy and prevent tooth loss.
If severe enough, the dental disease will cause deeper infection, recession and bone loss around the tooth roots leading to pain and loosening of the teeth. Intervention through cleaning and removal of the affected teeth will be necessary to get rid of the infection and prevent it from spreading to other important parts of the body such as the heart, liver, or kidneys.
Maintaining your pet’s oral health is key to its overall health and longevity. If you have concerns about your pet’s dental health, call your veterinarian and schedule an appointment for a dental evaluation and dentistry. Good hygiene and early intervention are the best prevention.
Island Life Animal Hospital
Dr. Danielle Gallo & Dr. Johnathan Pierce
5901 Sun Blvd., Suite 107, St. Petersburg
727-289-3776
islandlifeanimalhospital.vet