chicot60
02-16-2011, 03:31 AM
By Amy Murphy, ANIMALS
Dogs start out with 28 deciduous (baby) teeth and cats have 26. By six months of age these baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, 42 in the dog and 30 in the cat. If the deciduous teeth do not fall out, this can lead to problems such as increased tartar formation, malocclusion (bad bite) and gingival (gum) irritation. These retained deciduous teeth should be removed to prevent these issues.
It is easy to overlook the importance of regular dental care for pets, but imagine if you went years without brushing or flossing your teeth. A full 85% of pets have periodontal disease by three years of age. Dental care (such as teeth brushing) can be accomplished in almost any animal but like all things it is easier if it is started when they are young. Tooth brushing is the best way to remove daily plaque build-up from the teeth. Plaque is an accumulation of bacteria which will eventually lead to calculus (a brown-yellow cement-like substance on the teeth). The plaque and calculus can irritate the gums, which can bleed and allow the bacteria to enter the bloodstream. The bacteria can travel to other organs and cause serious disease.
To brush your pets' teeth you can use a gauze wrapped around your finger or a soft toothbrush to clean the outsides of the teeth (normal chewing of food and saliva will clean the insides). Toothpaste is not necessary and human toothpaste should be avoided completely (it is not meant to be swallowed); there are, however, pet safe, flavoured toothpastes available. There are also Veterinary dentist approved diets and treats (look for the VOHC - Veterinary Oral Health Council - symbol) to help with removal of plaque and tartar. Bones and hooves and other hard objects are not recommended for chewing on because they can readily break a tooth. Broken teeth can expose the pulp cavity inside the tooth, which is very painful and can cause a tooth root abscess.
It is also a good idea to get your pet accustomed to having its mouth examined by lifting the lips and opening the mouth. This will assist your veterinarian at your pets' yearly exam. Your veterinarian will likely recommend a professional cleaning at some point in your pet's life, and up to yearly for some dogs. This requires general anesthesia (dogs and cats will not sit patiently with their mouths open for extended periods of time), and involves: a thorough oral exam, professional cleaning (scaling and polishing), and treatment or removal of damaged or diseased teeth.
Common signs of dental problems in pets include: loss of appetite; red, swollen and bleeding gums; drooling; blood in the saliva; yellow-brown tartar at the gum line; broken teeth; foul breath. If you see any of these signs in your pet you should consider a visit to your veterinarian to check for dental disease. Dogs and cats do not have to suffer the pain and discomfort of untreated broken or loose teeth, or infected gums. With good dental care, your pet can enjoy a long and healthy life
http://www.prrecordgazette.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2979703
Dogs start out with 28 deciduous (baby) teeth and cats have 26. By six months of age these baby teeth fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth, 42 in the dog and 30 in the cat. If the deciduous teeth do not fall out, this can lead to problems such as increased tartar formation, malocclusion (bad bite) and gingival (gum) irritation. These retained deciduous teeth should be removed to prevent these issues.
It is easy to overlook the importance of regular dental care for pets, but imagine if you went years without brushing or flossing your teeth. A full 85% of pets have periodontal disease by three years of age. Dental care (such as teeth brushing) can be accomplished in almost any animal but like all things it is easier if it is started when they are young. Tooth brushing is the best way to remove daily plaque build-up from the teeth. Plaque is an accumulation of bacteria which will eventually lead to calculus (a brown-yellow cement-like substance on the teeth). The plaque and calculus can irritate the gums, which can bleed and allow the bacteria to enter the bloodstream. The bacteria can travel to other organs and cause serious disease.
To brush your pets' teeth you can use a gauze wrapped around your finger or a soft toothbrush to clean the outsides of the teeth (normal chewing of food and saliva will clean the insides). Toothpaste is not necessary and human toothpaste should be avoided completely (it is not meant to be swallowed); there are, however, pet safe, flavoured toothpastes available. There are also Veterinary dentist approved diets and treats (look for the VOHC - Veterinary Oral Health Council - symbol) to help with removal of plaque and tartar. Bones and hooves and other hard objects are not recommended for chewing on because they can readily break a tooth. Broken teeth can expose the pulp cavity inside the tooth, which is very painful and can cause a tooth root abscess.
It is also a good idea to get your pet accustomed to having its mouth examined by lifting the lips and opening the mouth. This will assist your veterinarian at your pets' yearly exam. Your veterinarian will likely recommend a professional cleaning at some point in your pet's life, and up to yearly for some dogs. This requires general anesthesia (dogs and cats will not sit patiently with their mouths open for extended periods of time), and involves: a thorough oral exam, professional cleaning (scaling and polishing), and treatment or removal of damaged or diseased teeth.
Common signs of dental problems in pets include: loss of appetite; red, swollen and bleeding gums; drooling; blood in the saliva; yellow-brown tartar at the gum line; broken teeth; foul breath. If you see any of these signs in your pet you should consider a visit to your veterinarian to check for dental disease. Dogs and cats do not have to suffer the pain and discomfort of untreated broken or loose teeth, or infected gums. With good dental care, your pet can enjoy a long and healthy life
http://www.prrecordgazette.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2979703