- by Jane Carroll McGroarty
My eight year old Norfolk terrier's breath began to smell. Initially I attributed it to that little piece of fish I had fed Duke from the table. Another week went by and his breath was still pretty foul. I tried to brush his teeth but he was uncooperative and wiggled away the first chance he got. He didn't mind the taste of the toothpaste but he resisted my attempts to do any real brushing. I got him some new rawhide bones and although he likes chewing them, his breath problems didn't improve. When he went for his annual check-up, my vet suggested a dental prophylactic cleaning under anesthesia. Even though Duke has been neutered when he was a pup, I was nervous about anesthesia having heard about several dogs who died during surgery. Over the next several months I talked to other dog owners whose pets had developed periodontal disease and some dogs had even lost teeth. I finally decided to take the plunge and have Duke's teeth cleaned. He tolerated the light anesthesia very well and his breath is once again back to normal!
Dogs, like humans, require dental care. While they do not often get cavities, they can develop periodontal disease. Some breeds seem to be more susceptible than others but experts have estimated that 85% of dogs over the age of 4 have some periodontal disease. Like their human companions, dogs develop dental problems because of plaque and calculus build-up. Debris accumulates in the gum pockets causing infection and swelling as well as shrinkage of the gums at the tooth line. Over time, repeated infections can result in gum disease, loose teeth, and more serious deterioration of the jaw bones. Soft food is the major culprit in the development of plaque. Most experts recommend kibble rather than canned food to prevent the accumulation of soft residue in the mouth. And most important, don't feed your dog table food.
The best antidote to dental problems in dogs is a combination of:
(1) Feeding dry kibble only which in itself helps clean the teeth when chewed,
(2) Having available at all times various chews designed to help clean teeth (e.g. Nylabone, Gumabone, dried beef tendon, etc.),
(3) Treats/kibble designed to clean teeth (e.g. Hills TD is a large sized kibble; some owners have reported good results by giving as treats two pieces of Hills TD to their dog three times a day, i.e. in the morning, at noon, and at bed time; however, you should ask your vet about side effects from preservatives / ingredients of anything you feed your dog),
(4) weekly (or more often) teeth cleaning at home by owners, and ....
(5) Cleaning at intervals recommended by a veterinarian.
Pet stores carry toothpaste made especially for dogs. Human toothpaste and, most especially baking powder or baking soda which contains sodium, should not be used. The toothpaste should contain an enzymatic agent. Some people recommend rinsing with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide which prevents tartar build-up. Cindy Tittle Moore advises using chlorhexadine liquid or gel (Nolvadent), an anti-plaque product. There are special toothbrushes that conform more easily to a dog's mouth. Some owners have found that it is easier to use a small pad of cheesecloth (or a cotton ball) instead of a brush. Because of the shape of dog teeth (more triangular than square), flossing is not necessary as it is for humans. As with grooming, the best time to introduce tooth cleaning is when the dog is a puppy. They like the attention and human contact and can be trained more easily to accept teeth cleaning!
Chewing, especially on rawhide type bones or toys, is thought to aid in the prevention of tooth problems by reducing plaque build-up and maintaining health gums. Pet stores also sell various "clean breath" products in tablet form which may temporarily improve bad breath but have no effect on plaque or calculus.
Many human owners don't have a lot of success in cleaning their pet's teeth at home. They may have started it too late and the dog is resistant to having its owner stick a brush in its mouth. It may be possible to do the front teeth but getting to the teeth at the back of the mouth, especially the inside surfaces, is difficult when the dog begins to squirm or gag.
At some point many of us will opt to have professional dental care for our dog, either in response to the dog's bad breath or because the vet has discovered plaque or periodontal disease. Some dog groomers will do teeth cleaning but since groomers cannot sedate or anesthetize the dog, all they can really do is a tooth brushing not plaque removal. Veterinarians are trained to perform plaque removal and polishing. If your dog shows signs of plaque build-up on its teeth and around the gums, the vet will generally suggest a 'prophy' or prophylactic tooth cleaning similar to that done by your dentist or hygienist. This entails removal or plaque or calculus and polishing the teeth to prevent the adherence of food which eventually forms plaque. If your dog has already developed periodontal disease, the cleaning may be more involved and may include the administration of antibiotics, especially when there is a possibly of removal of loose teeth.
Leaving cost aside, the biggest obstacle to veterinary teeth cleaning is an owner's fear of anesthesia. Vets recommend doing teeth cleaning under some type of sedation or anesthesia in order to properly scrape the teeth to remove the plaque. Some vets recommend a light (vs. deep) anesthesia for teeth cleaning which is shorter acting. Ketamine (a sedative /anesthetic) seems to be a favorite because it has a high margin of safety and is compatible with other anesthetic agents. It is generally used in combination with another drug, most commonly diazepam (Valium). As my vet put it, "We just want to prevent Duke from jumping off the table."
When I picked up Duke from the veterinary hospital after his dental prophylaxis, he was as feisty and spirited as ever. In fact he began yelping from his cage as soon as he heard my voice. Compared to the 'goofy' pup I picked up when he had his neutering operation, there were no evident effects from the teeth cleaning sedation.
One word of waning: when the veterinarian says "No food after midnight," you MUST follow this advice. One of the most serious complications during anesthesia is aspiration of stomach contents into the lungs causing asphyxiation. If your dog is scheduled for surgery, dental or other, and has eaten within twelve hours of the surgery, CANCEL the surgery.
The most important thing is not to neglect your dog's dental health whether it be in the form of home tooth cleaning or plaque removal by your veterinarian. Your vet should be examining your dog's mouth for plaque and periodontal disease during regular check-ups. As with many other health problems, prevention is the best medicine.
For further information, see:
General dog health information, including teeth, http://www.familyinternet.com/pet/dogs.htm
An excellent site with everything about dogs, dog health, etc. http://www.canismajor.com/dog
Huge variety of FAQs on all facets of dog care, http://k9web.com/dog-faqs/tittle/
- Jane Carroll McGroarty, Email: [email protected]
(c) © Copyright 1996 by Jane Carroll McGroarty, International Norfolk Terrier Club and Norwich Terrier Club International, all rights reserved, however until you are notified by Jane Carroll McGroarty or International Norfolk Terrier Club or Norwich Terrier Club International otherwise, you may distribute this document if you do not modify it and only distribute it in its entirety, including this copyright notice.
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