Pets need Dental Care too!
We at Ironwood Veterinary Clinic feel it is important to remember your pets dental care,
as well as their yearly vaccinations and exam.
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Importance of Dental Hygiene
The easiest way to underline the importance of maintaining dental health is to ask yourself the following question: If we didn't brush our teeth even once in a five year period what condition would our teeth be in? The answer is that our mouths would end up smelly, extremely painful and be the cause of all kinds of nasty infections. It seems ridiculous to leave our pet's teeth in this condition yet some degree of dental disease is present in almost all pets which come to the vets.
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The Sabotage Factor
A big area of concern is tit-bits! We all like to spoil our pets but sugary foods don't help the condition of the teeth or the size of the waistline and are best avoided. Cooked bones are also a poor idea as they can cause gastro-intestinal problems.
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There are alternatives, try giving your pet chew toys. The following is a list of treats and games that can help dental health. Most of these products are available from pet shops or our veterinary clinic.
• Rawhide chew bones/shapes.
• Greenie Treats.
• Pull toys or bite ropes.
• C.E.T. enzymatic chews.
When choosing chew items for your pet keep these points in mind: items which are too hard can cause fractures especially of the premolar and molar teeth in dogs. Any chew toy that is expected to be gnaw into small pieces can eventually become small enough to be swallowed and may cause gastrointestinal problems. Choose items which are too large to be swallowed by your pet and dispose of it if it becomes small enough to be swallowed due to gnawing.
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Periodontal Disease
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| What is Periodontal (gum) Disease? |
Periodontal Disease is an infection resulting from build-up of soft dental plaque on the surfaces of the teeth around the gums. The bacteria in dental plaque irritate the gum tissue if plaque is allowed to accumulate, which often leads to infection in the bone surrounding the teeth.
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What causes Periodontal Disease?
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Hard dental tartar (calculus) consists of calcium salts from saliva deposited on plaque. Tartar starts to form within a few days on a tooth surface that is not kept clean, and provides a rough surface that enhances further plaque accumulation. Once it has begun to grow in thickness, tartar is difficult to remove without dental instruments.
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| What effects does Periodontal Disease have on my pet? |
Bad breath is the most common effect noted by owners.
The gums become irritated, leading to bleeding and oral pain, and your cat or dog may lose its appetite or drop food from its mouth while eating.
The roots may become so severely affected that some teeth become loose and fall out.
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| How can I manage my dogs dental health? |
As long as the surfaces of the teeth are cleaned frequently, the gums will stay healthy.
Excellent oral health is maintained by daily oral hygiene. Brushing is best, however daily chewing activities can also be effective in maintaining oral health. |
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Dental Prophylaxis
A dental, also sometimes called a "prophy" or prophylaxis, is a cleaning and polishing of a dog's teeth. It is important to realize that dental disease does not reach a particular level and remain there. Dental disease continuously progresses. As dental disease progresses, the treatment becomes more involved, meaning longer and more elaborate (and more costly) dental procedures. This means that sooner is better than later when it comes to addressing your pet's dental disease with an appropriate treatment.
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