How does dental health impact the overall health of my dog?
Dental health is a part of your dog's total health. First of all, you can have localized disease, periodontal disease in the mouth, but dental disease can also affect things like the heart and the kidneys.
How can I care for my dog's teeth at home?
There's several things that you can do. The best thing is brushing. Like we brush our teeth, we should technically be brushing our dogs' teeth every day if we can. However, not all pets will allow you to do that, so the next best thing would be chewing on something. Dental chews that give a little, nothing too hard that can break the teeth.
What are some signs and symptoms of dental disease in dogs?
The first thing that we generally would notice would be bad breath. A lot of pet owners will come in and say, "Doc, my dog has bad breath." Periodontal disease can lead to infection. That's what causes bad breath, but another thing you might notice is an inability to chew on a certain side, or maybe they're slowing down to eat or something like that.
What are some of the common dental diseases in dogs?
Gingivitis, which is the inflammation of the gums, and periodontal disease, which is below the gum line. They can get infections. We also see masses and tumors in the mouth, and those things can lead to pain and discomfort.
Why is early detection and diagnosis of dental diseases so important?
Early diagnosis would then mean that we can intervene early. Therefore, we can maybe reverse the signs of dental disease. Early intervention obviously would be improving your pet's overall health.
How often should my dog's teeth be checked?
We generally will check the teeth every year when they come in for their wellness visit, but we also look at their teeth whenever they're here for any other reason. It's part of our complete physical exam.
What is a professional dental cleaning like for a dog?
A professional dental cleaning entails full anesthesia. We have the animals come in for what we call a day procedure or an admit. They're fully anesthetized. They get full oral dental radiographs. They have their teeth scaled and polished. All the plaque and tartar are removed. Then the veterinarian will look at the teeth once they're clean, review the dental radiographs, and decide if there's anything that needs to be addressed other than the basic cleaning.
How do I know if my dog needs a dental exam?
There are some symptoms that you might notice if your dog needs a dental exam. Some of the worst symptoms might be if the face is swollen, but some of the more common things might be bad breath, difficulty chewing, or starting to prefer softer foods as opposed to harder foods.
How often does my dog need a dental exam?
We definitely recommend an exam at least annually. Whenever you come in for your wellness visit, when it's time for vaccines and annual blood work, the doctor will always check the teeth then, but certainly sooner if you do notice anything abnormal.
How do I know if my dog's teeth are causing them pain?
Signs of oral pain would be what I just mentioned, such as difficulty chewing or preferring softer foods. More advanced symptoms might be if you actually saw swelling, which can be a painful abscess, or even drooling, which might be a symptom.
Is there anything I can do to help my dog prepare for a dental appointment?
Definitely. I would have them come in for their pre-operative lab work and make sure all their testing is done prior to the appointment. The other thing that you'll need to do is definitely have them fasted because they will be undergoing anesthesia.
Will my dog be getting dental x-rays?
Yes, we actually do dental x-rays in every single dental procedure because it's an important component of a thorough exam to look below the gum line. We have to see what the tooth roots are doing and if there are any signs of infection there.
How long does a dog dental cleaning appointment take?
We have the dogs dropped off in the morning. We have you leave them with us because we usually do multiple procedures. The procedure itself is generally between 1 and 3 hours. The first hour is generally with the technicians who are doing the cleanings and the dental x-rays. Then the remaining time is after the doctor has done a full oral health assessment based on those x-rays and what the technicians find. There might also be a possibility for oral surgery, which can take a variable amount of time depending on the extent of the disease.
If my dog needs extractions, will he be given pain medication?
Yes, absolutely. Dental extractions or oral surgery are very painful, and we always provide pain medication.
How often should I brush my dog's teeth?
Technically, we should brush our dog's teeth every day. That would be the best thing to do.
Are there any tips for making brushing a dog's teeth easier?
Absolutely. There are flavored toothpastes that you can use to make it rewarding, and always use positive reinforcement. You never want to force the dog to have their teeth brushed.
What products should I use to brush my dog's teeth?
We use or recommend enzymatic toothpastes made specifically for dogs. They do come in different flavors. We sell some, and they also sell them at the pet stores.
Can I use human toothpaste on my dog?
We don't recommend that. Number one, we don't think they like the taste of it, and we don't prefer that they actually swallow that.
Do I still need to brush my dog's teeth if I give them Greenies?
I do think brushing is better than chewing, but if the dog doesn't like brushing, chewing is the second-best thing you can do. But yes, the answer is yes. Brushing is best.
Can dogs get cavities?
They can. Dogs can actually get cavities. It's far less common than in humans, but we do know that plaque and tartar can lead to cavitary lesions.
Are there chew toys that can work to also brush my dog's teeth?
Absolutely. Like I just said a second ago, chewing is the next best thing you can do after brushing. There are lots of chew toys out there at pet stores that are meant for brushing the dog's teeth.
Want to learn more about our veterinary services? Call us at (407) 896-0941 or email [email protected]. Our team is happy to answer your questions and help schedule your pet’s visit.