Oral care and teeth assessment for dogs and cats

Just like with humans, dental disease can lead to all sorts of major health issues for animals, especially dogs and cats. Good oral care is necessary to provide optimal health and quality of an animal’s life. Diseases of the mouth, if left untreated, aren’t just painful, but can also contribute to local or systemic disease. Periodontal disease is the commonest dental condition affecting dogs and cats. Very often, periodontal disease is an incidental finding during a routine health examination. This is because the signs can be so subtle, that oral pain can often go undetected until it is quite severe. The signs of periodontal disease and other oral pathologies can be subtle and may include: bad breath, yellow-brown crust on teeth, red swollen or bleeding gums (generalized or focal)- gingivitis, change of food preference often seen as no longer likes their dry food and only prefers soft food, abnormal drooling.

During the consultation, the veterinarian will assess the oral cavity for any abnormalities of the soft tissue structures and a general visual assessment of the teeth.

Gingiva, the oral mucosa, and the gums are examined for:

• Gingivitis – gums red and inflamed, bleed easily
• Stomatitis – Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the mouth
• Gingival hyperplasia – an overgrowth of gingiva/gums
• Tumors in the oral cavity ulceration or lacerations

The assessment of the teeth: missing or broken, discolored, unstable/mobile, retained (deciduous), asymmetrical teeth, presence of plaque.

How to treat moderate to severe periodontal disease?
The removal of the bacterial plaque on the tooth surfaces is very important. This procedure can reverse gingivitis, returning the gingiva to have a healthy and uninflamed status. It can be achieved through professional dental cleaning with power and hand instruments, under general anaesthesia. Teeth that have become mobile due to loss of attachment should be extracted. They can sometimes be saved through major periodontal surgery procedures, but the disease will recur without drastic changes in home oral hygiene. Extraction allows the tissues to heal. A dog or cat can actually function perfectly fine without teeth. Although many pet owners will become quite distressed at the thought of their pet having teeth removed, it can be in the pet’s best interests to lose one diseased tooth to enable another tooth to survive. Additionally, many animals present with advanced periodontal disease and other oral pathologies affecting one or more teeth. In this case, the pet will be relieved of pain and infection with the removal of the diseased teeth.

How to prevent periodontal disease?
Effective oral care is vital for the prevention and control of dental disease in pets. Make a routine of brushing your pet’s teeth. It seems strange, or maybe complicated, but we must not neglect the benefits of brushing the teeth of our beloved pets. Ideally, we should get used to start brushing the teeth very early, the best start of brushing teeth is when the adult teeth are in place, which occurs around 6-7 months old. Very important, do not use human toothpaste, use special products designed for dogs and cats, and oral health. The product that contains Xylitol (like in human toothpaste) is extremely toxic for dogs. As well as the use of special foods and dental chews.

Food is a very important factor in maintaining healthy teeth. In addition to the importance of its composition and the form of presentation is a very important element for oral health. Dry food or croquettes is a factor with a lower incidence in the generation of gingival tartar plaque, compared to wet or cooked food. The use of will keep under control the accumulation of tarter plaque.

Written by Dr. Alexandra Gulinescu, ABVC Veterinarian