02/23/2025
February is National Pet Dental Health Month! 🦷✨ Just like humans, our pets need regular dental care to keep their smiles healthy and their hearts happy. 🐾 Don’t forget to schedule your furry friend’s dental check-up today! Let’s give them something to smile about. 🐶🐱
Dr. Anthony also wrote a short article for one of our local magazines, so we wanted to share that information with you!
**Pet Dental Health Month**
Did you know that February is National Pet Dental Health month?! We are all very aware of the importance of our own dental health, but what about our furry companions? Did you know that by 2 years old, 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of periodontal disease? Also, small breed dogs are five times more likely to be diagnosed with dental disease compared to large breed dogs. Playing close attention to our pet’s dental health needs is an important part of pet ownership, and can result in longer, happier (and less stinky) lives with our pets!
An interesting difference between dental disease in our pets versus ourselves, is that the main form of dental disease that dogs and cats develop is periodontal disease. They don’t typically develop cavities like we humans often do. Periodontal disease affects the tissues surrounding a tooth. The process starts with plaque-induced inflammation along the gumline which is what we refer to as gingivitis. If gingivitis is left untreated, this progresses to periodontitis, which is inflammation of the support structures around a tooth that results in breakdown of these structures, which can be irreversible.
*Why should we care about our pet’s teeth?
Beside the obvious perks to having better breath, our pets benefit from a medical standpoint by having their dental disease treated. Dental disease can result in a chronic source of pain as well as infection. There are multiple diseases that can result from, or worsen due to an infection in the mouth. Some examples of these include pathologic jaw fractures from severe bone infection and loss, abscesses, oral cancers, worsening liver, kidney, and heart disease. Many pets do not show us overt signs of dental disease until it is severe, so it is important to recognize and address these issues early on.
*Signs to look for include:
-Bad breath
-Dark brown build up on teeth
-Red/bright pink discoloration along the gumline
-Fractured and/or loose teeth
-Discolored teeth (pink, purple, blue, grey - can indicate tooth death)
-Chattering teeth or dropping food when eating
-Excessive drooling or pawing at the mouth
-Reluctance to chew food or treats
-Reluctance to play with toys and/or blood on toys after play time
-Sudden swelling under the eye (can be associated with tooth root abscesses)
-Excessive sneezing and nasal discharge
*What can we do as pet parents?
The great thing about periodontal disease is that we as pet owners can help prevent and slow progression of this disease process for our pets.
Start preventative measures early! Don’t wait until you notice dental issues because then disease has already set in! Start as a puppy/kitten so we get our pets used to having their mouth manipulated and teeth cleaned at home.
Daily teeth brushing is key! Plaque will build up after 24 hours, so daily brushing is needed to keep plaque under control. You always want to make sure to use pet specific toothpaste and they often come in meaty flavors that are more tempting to pets.
For the pets that won’t tolerate tooth brushing, there are various dental hygiene products that can help keep periodontal disease under control. VOHC.org is a great resource to look for reputable dental products such as dental wipes, treats, and water additives.
*Dental cleanings and oral health assessments; When the professionals need to get involved..
Unlike in humans, pets need anesthesia in order to safely have their teeth fully assessed and deep cleaned (under the gumline, not just on the surface of the tooth). The formal terminology for this procedure is a comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment (COHAT for short). This should be performed by a veterinarian and their team to ensure proper steps are taken throughout the process. Here are the basics of a COHAT:
1. Pre-operative blood work to make sure your pet is safe to undergo anesthesia, followed by anesthesia (which includes intubation to protect the pet’s airway during cleaning/treatment).
2. Full dental x-rays - Since dogs and cats often suffer from periodontal disease (disease of tissues AROUND the tooth) rather than disease involving the tooth itself, it is extremely important to have dental x-rays done at the time of a dental treatment since most of the dental disease in pets is UNDER the gumline!
3. Cleaning and charting- An ultrasonic cleaner is used to clean the surface of the tooth as well as subgingivally for a thorough deep cleaning. Dental probes are used to assess for pockets and other pathology in the mouth.
4. Advanced treatments- If issues are found that require additional treatments such as dental extractions, root canal therapy, or tissue biopsies, these procedures are typically performed at this time.
5. Polishing of the teeth is usually performed as a last step of the COHAT.
Let’s all celebrate National Pet Dental Health Month by taking extra special care of our pets' chompers! If you take a look in their mouth and have questions, give your veterinarian a call to schedule a dental consultation and help get your pet feeling their best!
Dry Creek Animal Hospital is a small animal veterinary hospital in Campbell, California!
