BSVH NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2012

UPDATED WEEKLY- NEW INFORMATION

February - Dental Month  15% off all dental procedures

More than 85% of dogs and cats older than four years have periodontal concerns.  There are four peridontal types of tissue:  the gingiva (gum), cementum, peridontal ligament, and alveloar supporting bone.

Periodontal disease starts when plaque forms: plaque is a transparent adhesive fluid composed of mucin, sloughed epithelial cells and aerobic, and gram positive cocci.  Plaque starts forming two days after dental cleaning.  If the plaque is not removed,  mineral salts in the food can precipitate to form hard dental calculus.  The calculus is irritating to the gingival tissue, changing the ph of the mouth and allowing bacteria to survie subgngivally.  By-products of these bacteria "eat away" at the tooth's support structures, eventually causing the tooth to be lost in some cases.

These are two common grading systems commonly used to classify the degree of peridontal disease.  The mobility index evaluates the looseness of the tooth.  With class I mobility, the tooth moves slightly.  Class II is when a tooth moves less than the distance of its crown width.  With Class III mobility the tooth moves a distance greater than its crown width.  With Class III teeth have lost more than 50% of their support and in most cases should be extracted.

Peridontal disease can also be staged:

Stage 1 gingivitis

Stage 2 early peridontitis-less than 25% support loss

Stage 3 established peridontitis-between 25%-50% support loss

Stage 4 advanced peridontitis-greater than 50% support loss

When peridontal disease is not treated, subgingival bacteria can continue to reproduce, creating deeper peridontal pockets through bone destruction.  Eventually, this progession can cause tooth loss and other internal medicine problems.

What causes oral health conditions? It's surprisingly easy to keep your pet's teeth and gums clean and healthy. The first step is to ask your veterinarian about professional prophylaxis to clean the teeth. After that, you should feed a special dry pet food made in larger kibbles that wipe the teeth clean as your pet eats them. Also start brushing your pet's teeth reqularly. There are some factors that can contribute to oral health problems. 1) Age: Dental disease is more common in older pets. 2) Breed: Small dogs are more likely to have overcrowded or misaligned teeth that are difficult to keep clean, making them more prone to dental disease. 3) Food: Feeding sticky foods can lead to a more rapid buildup of plaque.

Hills Prescription Diet t/d is designed to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth as your pet bites into them. You will notice a difference in a few weeks. Hills t/d is a complete food that contains all the nutrients your pet needs. It should be fed long-term as your pet's regular food to maintain dental health. Your pet will get maximum benefit if t/d is fed exclusively; particularly following a professional cleaning. Hills Prescription t/d Small Bites is formulated for the teeth and gums of small dogs. Because dogs under 15lbs have smaller mouths, t/d small bites is formulated with a smaller kibble size offering all the benefits of t/d. We also carry Royal Canin Dental DS.

Home Care Products

Toothpaste and Brushing

Just as with your own teeth, nothing beats bruhing.  The fibers of the toothbrush are able to reach between teeth and under gums to pick out tiny deposits of food.  A toothbrush acts as a tiny scrub brush for the closest possible cleaning.

Notice the shape of the canine and feline brushes and how they conform to a pet's mouth.  You can use a humans toothbrush but you will probably find it difficult to manipulate in the pets mouth.  Never use a human toothpaste as these contain sudsing agents (people like to see foam when they brush their teeth) that are not meant to be swallowed in quantity.  Animal toothpastes come in pet-preferred flavors (chicken, seafood, and malt) in addition the more human-appreciated mint andall are expected to be swallowed.

Finger brushes are available and are smaller for puppies and kittens.

Studies have shown that brushing three times a week was adequate to maintain healthy teeth and gums but daily brushing was needed to control existing gingivitis.

Do's and Don'ts of Brushing Your Pet's Teeth

Don't use human toothpaste on your pet.

Do use a toothbrush without any paste at first so that your pet may get used to the object in the mouth before having to contend with flavor.

Don't attempt to clean the inner surface of your pet's teeth.  Natural saliva cleans the surface on its own.

Do try to perform dental home care at least once daily.

Don't perform dental home care during the first week after a full dentistry in the hospital as your pet's gums may be tender.

Don't consider dental home care as an alternative to full dental cleaning if your pet has more advanced dental disease.

Those days when brusing isn't possible try C.E.T. Enzymatic Chews. C.E.T. chews, featuring the exclusive Dual-Enzyme System, have a natural antispetic plus an abrasive texture that works with the dog's chewing action to reduce plaque and loosen tartar. These chews can be given as easily as giving a treat, and your pet will love them.

Call today to schedule your pet's  dental exam!!!