Has your pet got halitosis, bad breath
and shows discomfort when eating or his gums are red and bleeding? If the
answer is yes then you should check with your veterinarian to see if his teeth
and gums are in good condition.
And probably one of the vet’s requests
that most owners dread is...brush your pet’s teeth.
Well, as long as we are always
responsible for what we have domesticated ...dental cleaning should be in the “must
do” calendar.
Gingivitis if not treated could lead
to a much more serious condition called Periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is a chronic
and irreversible disease which presents various degrees of evolution and affects
85% of the cat and dog population. It usually begins with a mild gingivitis.
Not to treat it will follow with a retraction of the gingiva ending in a loss
of the bone that holds the teeth with the immediate falling of the tooth.
Symptoms that we see most relevant are halitosis or bad mouth odour,
spontaneous gingival bleeding, the increase in mobility of the teeth and the
fall of the same in a spontaneous way.
The cause of periodontal disease
is the presence of dental plaque, which is an accumulation of bacteria and
other detritus between the tooth and the gum. Once formed the dental plaque can
only be removed through brushing. As time passes, minerals are deposited on
this bacterial film and Tartar forms, which will only withdraw using a
mechanical cleaning.
The bacteria present in this type
of infection can migrate through the bloodstream to distant locations such as
the heart causing infections in their valves known as endocarditis, likewise can
affect other organs (i.e the liver and the kidneys).
We recommend a minimum brush
cleaning every day. There are special dog/cat toothbrushes shaped according to their
teeth and also some brushes called "thimbles" because they fit on to
the finger of the owner and in certain animals that makes it easier. As with humans,
to brush a mouth with gingivitis may appear bleeding. The application of an
antiseptic mouthwash is also a helpful.
Chlorhexidine is the most effective product to inhibit
plaque formation in humans and it’s effective against bacteria, fungi, and some
viruses. Once absorbed it continues to be effective for up to 24 hours. The
contact time of application is important for chlorhexidine to bind to the tooth
and gingival sulcus. One minute oral rinsing is difficult to accomplish in
animals. Chlorhexidine can be applied with a gauze sponge, cotton tipped
applicators, as a spray or with finger brushes.
It is very important that your
pet gets a professional dental cleaning once a year which includes hand scaling,
polishing, irrigation, fluoride, perioceutic gel etc.
This procedure is very safe and
inexpensive and will definitely save you a lot of vet expenses in the long run
for Antibiotics and more complicated and longer dental procedures.
As a medical treatment before,
during and after the periodontal procedure, (usually 7-10 days) the antibiotic
of choice is Clyndamicine approved for dental infections.
Please contact us if you need
more information about your pet’s dental hygiene and health and the prevention
of future dental problems.
No comments:
Post a Comment