The Critical Importance of Pet Dental Health

Do you have memories of losing your baby teeth? Maybe they just fell out, or maybe your parents had to play tricks on you, coax you, or have the Tooth Fairy pay you, to extract those loose or bad teeth. As you aged, tooth pain became an aggressive and more common opponent. Cavities, plaque buildup, sore gums, even dental infections or abscesses that could cause tooth loss or worse. Dental infections can spread and start to impact other areas of health or parts of the body. A severe enough dental issue can cause death in a human. Bad teeth become a battle of that lasts long periods of time and causes nagging, and possibly, severe pain and discomfort until it’s eliminated.

Most people have set dental routines that include, brushing once or twice daily, flossing between the  teeth, regular dental check-ups, yearly teeth cleaning at a dentists office, oral surgery when needed, and all sorts of over-the-counter dental tools and help aids. In fact, teeth are so important that we often have them pulled and replaced with fake teeth, sometimes replacing all the teeth with dentures. Our smiles supposedly “say” something about our individual self esteem and a good oral care routine is promoted to assure healthy teeth and a winning smile.

Would it surprise you that your canine and feline pets battle the same sorts of issues? Things like the loss of baby teeth, teeth that don’t grow in straight, dental pain, broken teeth, rotting teeth, infections, plaque buildup, and missing teeth that alter their appearance and make eating difficult? In fact, the impact to a pets overall health from dental issues is much more common and severe than it is with most of their human companions dental concerns. The American Veterinary Association estimates that by their second birthday, nearly 80% of dogs and 70% of cats will have some form of dental issues, starting with simple plaque buildup. Those issues are often hidden by the animal and pet parents might not know the pet is in pain if they don’t pick up on subtle signs of their distress.

February is designated as Pet Dental Health Month and today’s Dog Blog is focused on the importance of your pets dental health and what responsible Pet Parents should be doing to assure good oral health for their fur kids. Let’s get started…

The Feline Dental Clean Machine

Did you know that cats are designed with oral tools that assist in good dental health? It’s a fact… cats were created as a killing machine, and their mouths built to reduce the chances of dental issues. Let’s look deeper into why and how…

  • Cats have a unique oral structure that helps to minimize plaque buildup, and acts as a “self-cleaning” tool

  • A felines sandpaper like tongue helps to clean their teeth and cuts down on bacteria and plaque that cause dental decay.

  • Every kitty also have a tarter-inhibiting agent in their saliva that helps to eliminate buildup on the teeth.

  • Strangely enough, a cats constant grooming also helps them to avoid dental issues. (and you thought they were just being obsessively clean)

  • A cat, regardless if its your house cat or a lion in the wild, has a mouth that is designed to eat meat. The alignment of their teeth and jaw is made to grab, tear, grip, rip, and chew both meat and bone.

  • The shape of your kitties teeth allows clean and precise actions that clean the teeth and scrub excess food away from the mouth. In the wild, a cat will chew on bones of their prey. This action creates a natural plaque removal on all sides of the teeth, right down to the gum line.

  • A cats diet has much less sugar or chemicals that promote tooth decay

Your average house cat doesn’t deal with hunting in the wild and won’t have access to bones or raw meat. However, dry kibble and hard cat treats will mimic some of the actions that occur when a wild cat eats their prey. Between a cats jaw, tooth design, tongue, and saliva, a cats mouth is an auto-clean machine. So it makes you wonder why 70% of cats have oral issues? The reason is that there are other factors at work that will cause a cat’s oral health to turn bad…

  • Cats have a high risk factor of kidney disease. In fact, 1 in 3 cats will have kidney disease. 30% of cats over the age of 10 develop kidney disease and as they grow older, that number can rise to 80% by age 15.  Kidney disease impairs the delicate mineral balance in their saliva and reduces saliva production which can lead to oral issues.

  • 1 in ever 230 cats will end up with feline diabetes. That may seem like a small number until you factor in that there are and estimated 93.5 million cats in our country. Diabetes will increase plaque bacteria growth and this will work against the cats oral health.

  • A diet of only dry food reduces the effectiveness of a felines natural dental cleaning machine

  • Some medications could reduce saliva and limit that cleaning agent

  • Mouth injuries, damage to the teeth by accident, or genetic defects, can all lead to pain and poor dental health

By age eight, 50 to 90% of domestic cats will have some form of dental decay or disease. Dental issues and oral infections are not only painful, but they can also lead to bacteria from the mouth entering the bloodstream. Once this occurs, that bacteria can attack internal organs and cause much more severe heath issues for the kitty.

Your feline friend can’t tell you that their having tooth pain, but they will show clear signs of being in some sort of oral distress. In fact, some cats will hide pain, as it shows a weakness and lowers their status in the pride.  Look for hidden signals of dental issues like…

  • Bad, pungent, breath

  • Red gums or visible tarter buildup

  • Excessive drooling

  • Bleeding from the mouth

  • Pawing at the mouth, shaking of the head, or teeth chattering

  • Facial swelling

  • Dropping food or lack of desire/avoiding food

  • Visible weight loss

  • Behavioral changes like hiding, mood changes, uncharacteristic aggression, lack of overall desire

You should setup an oral health routine for your cats that includes regular brushing, yearly physical exams by your trusted veterinarian, and scheduled cleanings by a professional.

Doggone Dental Health Concerns

A dog is a different animal than a cat, so the frequency of dental issues, the make-up of those issues, and the overall routines needed to help your dog have good oral health are different as well. 80% of dogs will have dental issues, some starting as soon age 1 or 2.  A dog does not have a lot of the built in dental health benefits of a cat, but with a good oral health a dog can keep the majority of their teeth late into life.

Let’s first break the myth that “dogs will naturally lose teeth as they age”.  Unlike humans, a dog experiencing any tooth loss is a sign of some underlying condition… let’s examine some of the most common concerns…

  • Periodontal Disease, more commonly known as gum disease, is the #1 culprit in dental issues in canines. This starts as a build up of sticky plaque around the teeth. As that plaque accumulates, if it is not removed,  it will become hard tarter. Tarter is much harder to remove than plaque, and will cause gingivitis. Gingivitis is an inflammation around the gums. Left unchecked, gingivitis can rapidly progress to periodontists, which is the infection spreading to deeper tissues in the mouth. This spread would include ligaments and bone that supports the teeth. If left untreated and unchecked, this will cause loose teeth in the animal, and eventually the teeth will fall out.

  • Dental Abscesses are infections at the root of the tooth. They can lead to significant pain in the mouth, and the infection can cause swelling and decay of the foundation holding the tooth in place. This can lead to the tooth falling out due to lack of support. Any infection can spread, but an oral infection is more likely to enter the bloodstream and race to organs or soft tissue.

  • Poor diet and food selection can lead to a variety of issues. Unlike a feline, a dog does not have built in “help tools” that eliminate plaque buildup. A dog also needs hard food, such as kibble, or treats that promote the removal of plaque buildup around the teeth. A “soft food only” diet can be detrimental to oral health. To many table scraps, or to much human food, can also be bad for oral health. Human food is heavy in sugars, which work to decay teeth.

  • Mouth or Tooth Trauma can cause chipped, broken, or damaged teeth. Dogs chew… EVERYTHING… and sometimes their “chew of choice” can be damaging. Consider a rock or stone and the damage that it can do to a dogs smile. Dogs can catch a tooth on a cloth or rope when playing and loosen a tooth. The world is a wondrous place for a canine, and dogs tend to lead with their mouths.

  • Genetics and Breed can also be a predetermined cause of dental issues. Some breeds have bad teeth due to the shape of the mouth or snout and teeth are “overcrowded” or misaligned. This will likely cause tooth loss and/or excessive plaque buildup around the teeth. These breeds include Toy Poodles, King Charles Spaniels, Yorkshire Terriers, Chihuahuas, Greyhounds, and Pugs… to name just a few.

  • Certain medical conditions and medications can cause tooth loss or making dental issues more of a possibility.

Much like a cat, a dogs loss of teeth, a dental infection or abscess, or poor dental hygiene can have a significant effect on the animals overall health. Pain and discomfort (both visible and hidden), difficulty eating, the spread of infection to other parts of the body, can all lead to a reduced quality of life for the fur baby. The signs that your best buddy is having oral issues looks a lot like the symptoms of a feline…

  • Bad breath is a clear clue. Dogs don’t always have the best of breath because of their hygiene habits, however dental issues come with a constant smell that is distinct and heavy.

  • Red or swollen gums. A healthy pooch will have pink gum. If you see red or swollen areas, your dog might have gingivitis or gum disease. Bacteria has worked its way under the gum line and there is likely an infection there.

  • Loose or missing teeth are a clear sign something is not right in the mouth. If teeth are falling out, there is likely a more serious dental issue taking root in the mouth.

  • Pawing at the mouth, excessive drooling, difficulty eating/off their normal food routine, visible gum bleeding, or changes in behavior are all clues that something is off in the mouth.

  • Discolored teeth could mean root damage or infection under the gum.

  • Facial swelling, sudden sensitivity to hot or cold food, reluctance to open their mouth are all signs that something is not right with their mouth or teeth.

Assure your dog has the help they need to have good oral health. This starts with regular teeth brushing, that happens daily. Use a dog specific tooth brush and toothpaste. Provide plenty of chews and toys that promote plaque and tarter removal and fresh breath. Assure the dogs diet includes hard food, is light on human snack and scraps, and promotes good gut health. Schedule yearly professional cleanings and checkups by your trusted veterinarian.

The main point to good feline and canine dental health is prevention and a plan. If you ignore their teeth, they will likely develop dental issues (remember that 70 to 80% of all dogs and cat do in their lifetimes). A brushing routine, keeping an eye on your pets for hidden and obvious signs of oral discomfort, and regular scheduled checkups are the most critical factors to keep that beautiful fur friend smile in tact.

To help keep smiles bright and your pets health right, Freddie’s Place Animal Hospital is offering 10% off all dental care in the month of February. If you’re in San Diego, give the Best Care Anywhere Team a call at 760-Freddie to schedule your dental screening and cleaning.

That’s it for this weeks Dog Blog and we hope you found out something you didn’t know. It’s our mission to position you to be the most informed Pet Parent you can be. Keep in mind that we have a large library of pet related blogs on our web page. We’re sure you’ll find something of interest there.

Till we meet again, we hope your pets smile is bright, their company is a delight, and your time together is just right… and we know you’ll always be Pet Friendly! #FreddieSez 

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