Priest Lake Veterinary Hospital
February 2010 News Letter
Have a Happy Valentines Day. Well it's dental month again and I am going to
reiterate the importance of dental cleanings for your pets. Aren't you glad
that things are back to normal? Kids are back in school, decorations put away,
house put back in order and the weather is still unpredictable. January sure
was a cold one, it made me feel like as if I was back home in Ohio. Sometimes
February is said to be a "gloomy" month. To eliminate the "gloomys" take on a
new hobby, go for longer walks, get a new hairstyle, rearrange your furniture or
take a small trip to a place you've always wanted to see and it's practically in
your back yard.
Have a good February and be safe.
Plaque and Tartar
Plaque- Is the
film made up of saliva, mucous, bacteria, and left over food that builds up on
the tooth's surface when they are not brushed
Tartar- A hard substance made up of calcium and phosphorous that
forms at the gum line when teeth aren't brushed. It harbors and attracts more
plaque and bacteria which can lead to gum disease, gingivitis, halitosis and
more.
Dental Procedures
Scaling------Removes plaque
and calculus from the tooth crown, gingival sulcus (pocket) and root surface
Polishing-----Smooths out roughened enamel making it difficult for
plaque to adhere
Periodontal probing and charting-----Determine and document the
extent of periodontal disease
X-rays-----Evaluate bone damage and loss, tooth viability and
endodontic disease (involvement of the tooth's deeper structures)
Extractions----Removes a diseased, damaged or loose tooth that
cannot be saved
Dental Gear
Dental Diets, dental
chews, treats, biscuits, rawhide chews-----Control plaque and tartar
accumulation
Toothpastes-----Reduce plaque accumulation and freshen breath
Breath tablets----Freshen breath
Dental sprays and rinses----Reduce plaque and tartar accumulation,
freshen breath, sooth irritated gums and are useful when introducing home dental
care
Water additives------Some products remove plaque and freshen
breath, others have a minimal effect on plaque. Check the label for specific
information or ask your veterinarian
Dental Preventative Care
Brush, brush, brush---try to
brush your pet's teeth at least 3 times a week (daily is best)
Choose the right food-----Feed dry food or a tartar controlled
food (better un-moistened)
Treat correctly----If you give your pet treats, use dental treats
or biscuits. Raw vegetables such as green beans, carrots and broccoli are also
a good choice
Get professional help----Every 6 months or at least once yearly,
take your pet to your veterinarian for a dental evaluation.
Watch for signs of tooth trouble------Difficulty eating, inflamed
or bleeding gums, bad breath, discolored teeth, loose, broken or missing teeth,
and noticeable pus along the gum line
Just like humans every pet is different as far as how often a dental cleaning
should be done. Many small dogs and cats need attention more frequently than
larger dogs. If your pet has dental problems that are not addressed, this could
lead to health problems and eventually organ failure if the infection goes
untreated for too long. Don't take that chance, have your pet's teeth checked
once or twice a year whichever is recommended by your veterinarian. Dental
disease can lead to serious medical problems.
What?
When it is time to have your pet's
teeth cleaned you can elect to have the blood work done at that time. The blood
work will show us if there are any underlying problems present. If a problem
exists then administering anesthesia may be a problem. When you have surgery,
your doctor will order pre-anesthetic blood work and that is what we are
recommending also. Remember that your pets age differently then we do and a lot
faster. For example: If your large dog is one year old it is 14 years old in
dog years. Here are some more examples:
5yr old human years
giant breed--------42
large breed--------40
medium breed---38
small breed-------36
cats------------------48
When you look at your pet with these figures in mind it will remind you that a 5
year old pet isn't that young in pet years. It can help you to see how a blood
test before any procedure as well as a screening blood test could be
beneficial.
Periodontal Disease
- Stage 1- begins with
gingivitis (gum inflammation, redness and bleeding)
- Stage 2- pockets begin to form between tooth and gum where bacteria and
plaque can build up
- Stage 3- the pockets get deeper and teeth have less tissue to hold
onto. The bone that holds the teeth in place begins to deteriorate
resulting in bone loss
- Stage 4- your pet's gums will be seriously inflamed and they may loose
more than 50% of the bone supporting their teeth. Many teeth will become
loose. Their teeth will be covered in ugly brownish tartar and the bacteria
present can spread to internal organs
Staff
News
We are offering a 15% discount on all dentals during the month of February.
That discount is for the dentals only and does not include additional charges
for extractions, x-rays, etc. Call soon to schedule your appointment as they
will fill up fast. If you've been putting off getting your pet's teeth cleaned,
now is the perfect time to give us a call and schedule that dental cleaning.
615-361-4646
As a special treat, we are having a drawing this month that will include any one
who came in for a dental this month. The winner will receive a 5# bag of T/D
dental food, a tooth brush and tooth paste worth approximately $30.00. We will
announce the winner next month in the March News Letter. Good Luck
If you would like to be removed from our mailing list please contact our office
at 615-361-4646 or email me at plvh@bellsouth.net