Articles Inside Silent but Stinky Disease What Happened to Fluffy Changing Your Pet s Food FREE
The silent, but STINKY disease that is affecting your pet By Erin Quigley, DVM If you asked most pet owners what the most common disease in dogs and cats was they would probably say allergies, cancer, diabetes etc. We are surprised to learn the most common disease afflicting our pets is dental disease, also called periodontal disease. Most people would see their pet s bad breath as an annoyance, but a disease?? Yes the bad breath you smell when your dog is giving you slobbery kisses can be a sign of serious problems to come. Dental Disease Dogs and cats build a film on their teeth, just as people do, called plaque. Plaque is actually a film of bacteria that sticks to the surface of the teeth over time from normal daily eating without daily brushing. At first it s invisible and you may not notice, except a little stinky breath. Over time the plaque calcifies and thickens into a hard, dark colored substance called tarter. This you may notice if your pet allows you to look at his/her teeth or you may notice an increased potency in your pet s breath. This is usually the stage when pet owners notice a problem and may head to their favorite pet store in desperation to improve the breath by popular treats or even sprays that claim to dissolve the tarter on your dog and cats teeth. Although these products may help slow down the progression of the dental disease and help temporarily with your pet s breath, it often leaves pet owners dissatisfied. talking and the bacteria film was invisible. And most dogs and cats aren t opening up and saying ahh so you can look at their teeth. Who can help? Your caring and knowledgeable veterinarian. Your pet s doctor will during your pet s routine yearly or bi-yearly exam evaluate your pet s dental stage. And advice you on whether it is just time to increase those dental treats, or time for a dental procedure/cleaning. What about teeth brushing? My groomer brushes my dog s teeth every 6 weeks? Do I really need my dogs teeth cleaned at the vet, it doesn t sound very important? So what my pet has tarter, it doesn t seem to be bothering them? But I give my dog chew bones? I know you have more questions, let s address the common questions, myths and concerns and give you more insight on how keeping up with your pet s dental health can help them live longer healthier lives. What you didn t realize, because your pet wasn t talking, is that dental sprays and chew bones can make a big difference in preventing this yucky tarter and bad breath, but they needed to be started when the invisible plaque was there. Unfair, I know. Don t feel guilty, remember your pet wasn t 2 MetroPet Magazine St. Louis - January 2014
Teeth brushing Brushing your dog or cats teeth can be possible and commendable. Everyone will agree that is the best method to prevent your pet s teeth from accumulating tarter and helping prevent bad breath. There are many types of tooth brushes (hand held, or finger brushes) and toothpaste flavors specific to your dog or cat that can aid to help you in this challenging task. Your veterinarian or pet nurse can aid you in where to start. What you need to know ahead of time.this practice will be most successful if you start when they are young puppies and kittens. That way the get used to you sticking your fingers in their mouths. Your 7 year old dog or cat may look at you like your crazy if you are coming at them with a foreign object, not to mention they probably already have inflamed and painful gums they are not telling you about, so may not be a successful venture. The other more important fact is, brushing your dog or cats teeth a few times a year, probably not going to do too much. Think about it, if us humans brushed our teeth every other month ok stop thinking, that s gross. Let s just say not too many smiling faces. So although I commend your efforts or your groomer s efforts, unless it s a daily routine, we are most likely not going to make much difference in the progression of tooth decay. All joking aside they have done scientific studies that proved if the tooth brushing wasn t done daily it did not make a significant difference to your pet s health. Don t feel bad, the vast majority of pet s especially if started later in life are not going to tolerate this. Let s be honest. I as a veterinarian would never condemn you if you don t brush your pet s teeth daily. Good news is we can still prevent the disease. www.metropetmag.com St. Louis - January 2014 3
Chew bones Chew bones can be a helpful aid in preventing dental tarter accumulation. And yes dry food accumulates tarter and a lot slower rate than canned/wet food. So you are doing well. But just remember not all chew bones are the same. Be very cautious in choosing one for your pet because they can lead to more serious problems, such as intestinal obstructions and gastrointestinal upset. Not worth it, ask your veterinarian for their recommendation. Again they are only affective if you start early when you are only at the invisible plaque stage, and unfortunately not an option for our furry feline friends. Dental disease and the progression So why is preventing this disease important other than stinking breath? I know I left you in suspense. So what happens after this stinking brown thick tarter is on my pet s teeth.first step infection of the gum tissue adjacent to the tarter called gingivitis. Yes infection, gingivitis may sound like a catchy word we hear on toothpaste commercials, but the reality is there are harmful bacteria residing in your pets mouths. The gums are red and inflamed and painful. My dog or cat doesn t seem painful? He is not yelping? I believe you. But here is the thing about dogs and cats. We baby them, and make them part of the family, guilty as charged here. But in reality they are instinctual survival driven animals. What does that mean? They hide pain. They are not going to tell you, they are not going to show you, or let you look. Most will not yelp. But you may see other behaviors such as a hesitancy to drink colder water, or chewing their dry kibble slower. But if they eat can food or the inhale their food you may not notice any pain yet. Just remember if you have ever had a sore tooth or inflamed gums, it feels the same for them. Next step tooth decay. Not far after the gingivitis, or gum infection begins the tooth starts to decay this leads to more pain when it reaches the nerve of the tooth and could lead to bone loss where the jaw meets the tooth roots. No one wants their pet s teeth pulled. Unfortunately what we are seeing in veterinary hospitals is by the time we are performing dental procedures on your pet s, tooth extractions are necessarily due to decay and to prevent pain. On the bright side once the tarter is removed by ultrasonic scaling and decayed teeth are removed by extraction under sedation, the infection can be eliminated. This is important not only to prevent further tooth decay and pain but to prevent the bacteria in your pet s mouth from traveling through the blood stream and causing disease in heart valves, kidney and liver tissue which have been clinically proven. The truth is these diseases not only shorten and decrease quality of life in our pets but at these advance stages of periodontal disease and organ involvement the risk of complications from anesthesia to eliminate the primary cause is high. Take home message: Don t wait that long. Schedule a dental procedure/prophy at the onset of plaque/gingivitis so the procedure is short, simple and extractions aren t necessary and the risk of anesthesia is very minimal due to healthy heart, liver and kidneys. So now that you are informed to how important your pet s dental health is to the longevity and quality of his/her life feel empowered not overwhelmed. Your veterinarian is your partner to help give you reassurance and your pet comfort and the proper individualized dental care for your family pet. Schedule a dental exam today so you can prevent bad breath from becoming a bad heart, and enjoy a long healthy life with your beloved furry family member. Erin Quigley, DVM, Member of AVMA, MVMA, grew up in Florissant, MO, and received a Bachelor s degree in Biology at Missouri State University. After college I worked as a receptionist at Rock Road Animal Hospital, a zookeeper at the St. Louis Zoo and a veterinary assistant at Howdershell Animal Hospital until attending Veterinary School at University of Missouri-Columbia. I graduated with my Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine and have lived in O Fallon, Missouri since I graduated. I have worked as a veterinarian in Troy, Wentzville, and Florissant, MO, until purchasing Animal Medical Center of Wentzville in 2010. I married in 2011 and live with my husband Ryan and boxer dog Finnegan in Lake St. Louis/O Fallon. When my husband and I have free time from the clinic we enjoy spending time with our dog, family and friends. Our hobbies include attending Cardinal baseball and Mizzou football games. We also enjoy the outdoors biking, boating and horseback riding. 4 MetroPet Magazine St. Louis - January 2014
Cold Winter Care Tips Brrrr it s cold outside! The following guidelines will help you protect your companion animals when the mercury dips. 1. Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, felines can freeze, become lost or be stolen, become injured, or killed. Cats who are allowed to stray are exposed to infectious diseases, including rabies, from other cats, dogs and wildlife. 2. During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. If here are outdoor cats in your area, bang loudly on the car hood before starting the engine to give the cat a chance to escape. 3. Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm. Dogs can lose their scent and can easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season;so make sure yours always wears ID tags. 4. Thoroughly wipe off your dog s legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other potentially dangerous chemicals while licking his paws, and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice. 5. Never shave your dog down to the skin in winter, as a longer coat will provide more warmth. When you bathe your dog in the colder months, be sure to completely dry him before taking him out for a walk. Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck with coverage from the base of the tail to the belly. For many dogs, this is regulation winter wear. 6. Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold and causing the animal to freeze to death. 7. Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs, and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If your puppy appears to be sensitive to the weather, you may opt to paper-train him inside. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself. 8. Does your dog spend a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities? Increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep him, and his fur, in tiptop shape. 9. Like coolant, antifreeze is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle, and consider using products that contain propylene glycol rather than ethylene glycol. Visit the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center more information. 10. Make sure your companion animal has a warm place to sleep, off the floor and away from all drafts. A cozy dog or cat bed with a warm blanket or pillow is perfect. More pet care information can be found on the ASPCA website at www.aspca.org 5