Dental Health Month
February is dental health month so I have decided to share a few busted myths concerning your pet’s oral health.
Myth 1: Pets that are having oral pain won’t eat.
Our pets have a natural survival instinct which means they will often hide the fact that they are in pain and will continue to eat like normal. It is important to not wait until they are showing signs of pain which can often be subtle. Instead, be sure to take them in for their annual wellness exam and implement daily home care prevention such as tooth brushing.
Myth 2: Bad breath is normal in dogs and cats.
Many pet owners believe this to be true, however bad breath is a sign of oral infection and periodontal disease is the number one cause.
Myth 3: Chewing on real bones is good for your pet’s teeth.
Animal bones are very hard and can fracture teeth or splinter off and cause injuries. It is also important to understand that chewing alone won’t completely prevent dental disease. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (http://www.vohc.org/) has a list of products available on their website that have been shown to safely help retard the accumulation of tartar and plaque.
Myth 4: Dry food is better for my pet’s teeth.
It is possible that dry food can help prevent the build up of calculus on teeth and there are many products out there that make this claim. However, many do not have any research to support this. Often times the kibble breaks apart or is swallowed whole before it can truly make a difference. Diets that have found to be effective will have the Veterinary Oral Health Council seal of approval.
Myth 5: An oral exam while my pet is awake can sufficiently diagnose periodontal disease.
It is possible for severe oral disease to be diagnosed while your pet is awake however many patients have hidden periodontal disease. This can be due to many factors including difficulty seeing the back of the mouth, resistance to an oral exam by your pet, and dark pigmentation in the mouth that disguises inflammation. The best way to identify periodontal disease is by performing a oral exam and taking dental x-rays while under general anesthesia.
In the above photo, Dr. Shawn is working on carefully extracting a tooth from an anesthetized patient.
We care about your pet’s oral health as it can impact their overall health. Infection that starts in the mouth will spread to internal organs and shorten their lifespan. We want to do everything we can to help prevent serious dental disease. Tools we can provide not only include at home care products, but also in-clinic assessments and treatments. We are here to answer all of your questions and concerns!
~Dr. Shawn