By Nancy E. Hassel, LIPetPlace.com with contribution from Dr. Keith Niesenbaum

Does your pet Floss?

Did you know that the month of February is National Pet Dental Month? Over the last few years every veterinarian that has spoken in the Town or Islip’s Free Dog Training & Education class has stressed the importance of brushing your dog’s teeth – daily. While most people giggle in the class about it, or look at the doctor in disbelief, “I have to do what?” Dental health in dogs and cats is very important. Smaller dogs often have worse dental disease due to the mere fact that their mouths are smaller, and teeth are closer together. But all dogs can suffer from periodontal disease as well as cats.

If you have a new puppy or kitten, the best time to start is while they are still young, getting them used to brushing their teeth. There are specially made pet tooth brushes and pet tooth paste, (do NOT ever use human tooth paste on a dog, it can be very dangerous to the dog), that you can purchase in any pet store. If you are not sure how to brush your dog’s teeth, consult your veterinarian on the proper tools and technique – this way you will not hurt your dog.

I asked local veterinarian Dr. Keith Niesenbaum his professional thoughts on pet dental health and this is what he had to say on the subject:

“Good oral health begins with regular examinations of the teeth and gums by your veterinarian.  If a disease is found it should be treated immediately as early intervention can prevent serious conditions such as pain, tooth loss, kidney disease, heart disease, and systemic infections.  Your veterinarian will probably recommend cleaning, both above and below the gum line and polishing, to remove micro etchings in the enamel, as well as treatments for any specific pathology that is found.  Clients always ask me what they can do to prevent serious dental disease that will spare their pets more invasive procedures.

Prevention is always preferred to treatment.  The obvious, and often off the cuff response to pet owners is to brush their pets’ teeth – just don’t use human tooth paste.  Pets will swallow this and may vomit or even develop fluoride toxicity if they eat too much. Use a veterinary specific paste, they work well, are better tolerated, and won’t cause the problems of the human products.  Besides, what pet can resist the allure of poultry flavored tooth paste?  If you can’t brush at least 3 – 4 times a week, and most of us can’t seem to get that done, then the next best thing is dental chews. You want to get a chew that is appropriately sized for your pets and impregnated with enzymes that inhibit the build up of plaque, the precursor to tarter.  The physical chewing activity is good, but the enzymatic activity is better.  Non-enzymatic chews and bones are my next recommendation, especially if paired with some sort of anti bacterial rinse or water additive.  Owners must be cautioned about chews though, if they are too hard, they can crack teeth, causing a more serious dental problem.  If they can be chewed down to a size small enough to swallow whole, they can become lodged in the GI tract, necessitating surgery to remove them.  Very aggressive chewers should be watched carefully and dogs especially should not be left alone with chews that they might get into trouble with.

Although none of these home programs will remove the tarter once it’s there.  Flip your dog or cat’s lip and try to scrape that brown, mineral encrustation off with your fingers.  There isn’t a brush or a bone in the world that will safely remove that concretion.  Once it’s there, it needs to be professionally removed, and no amount is normal for a healthy mouth.  Many veterinarians are offering some sort of incentive to promote dental health during the month of February.  You should contact your veterinarian to see what programs they have in place.  At Crawford Dog and Cat Hospital we are performing free oral health screening exams during Pet Dental Health Month and you can schedule an appointment on line 24/7 at http://petsmdbook.com/crawford/.”

Thanks to Dr. Niesenbaum for his sound dental advice for out pets and the next time you are flossing, or scheduling your own dental appointment, you may want to think about your dog and cat’s dental needs too!

Nancy Hassel: As a side note, I personally let my dog chew on marrow bones I get at a local health food store, specifically for dogs and made right here in the US.  I happen to know my dog won’t try to eat that actual bone but rather chew on it, and do monitor him while he has it.  Sometimes he chips away at it, but never swallows any piece-you have to know your dog, and know your breed.  Be careful with any type of bone, as a huge mistake I bought one from a big box pet store one day and because of the process the manufacturer put the bone through (some sort of basting/cooking process) my dog cracked it in half within minutes of having it and it was a sharp as a razor.  I immediately threw the bone in the garbage – since that scary instance I stick with the ones I have been buying for over 10 years.

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