Bay Vets
Bay of Islands Veterinary Services has been providing top quality veterinary care to the animals of the beautiful Bay of Islands for over 50 years.
Dogs and cats are carnivores with teeth adapted for eating carcasses (including cartilage, bones, feathers and skin). Most pets eat commercial diets or cooked foods. Their teeth are not kept clean by chewing and tearing the way nature intended and are more likely to suffer from some degree of dental disease.
There is substantial evidence to suggest that dental disease can cause other problems such as heart or kidney disease by releasing bacteria and toxins into the blood. Many animals with dental disease are in pain, discomfort or lose weight due to the bacterial infection in their mouths.
Dogs and cats are very good at concealing their discomfort. Owners are often unaware of the severity of the dental problems that they may have, 75% of dogs and cats over 3 years suffer from dental disease. Often owners comment on the improved temperament of the animal after dental treatment. Another big plus - the improved smell of their breath that will result!
All new puppies and kittens should get used to having their mouth examined and their teeth handled by their owner. At vaccination, your vet will check for conformational problems. These can predispose to periodontal disease later on. Sometimes the baby teeth are retained, interfering with the normal development of permanent adult teeth. It is important to identify issues before the problems start rather than adopting a “wait and see” attitude. Small breed dogs and purebred cats are most likely to have abnormal conformation.
BRUSHING is proven to be the gold standard of home oral healthcare. Three times weekly is enough for healthy mouths. Animals with previous dental problems which required treatment may need once daily brushing. Special animal toothpaste is available as human ones are unsuitable. Any small soft toothbrush will do. Small animals may accept a finger brush better. Ask us about our starter kit with toothpaste, finger brush and our 10 Top Tips for Brushing your Pet's Teeth.
DIET Dogs and cats on soft diets have a higher incidence of plaque build-up compared to those on dry diets. Some foods are specially designed to improve oral health.
With a larger kibble size and specially developed fibres to improve the cleaning action on the tooth surface, these foods are; scientifically proven to reduce plaque, tartar and gingivitis. A good alternative where tooth brushing is not an option.
Pet foods all incorporate the Dental Defense system. This consists of a coating on the dry food with Polyphosphate micro-cleansing crystals which remove plaque during chewing and prevent already formed plaque from being converted to tartar. This food is proven to result in significant decreases in tartar accumulation.
There is no evidence that feeding bones prevent or control periodontal disease. We know that bones may cause injury to teeth or other parts of the digestive system, so most Vets no longer recommend bones.
Raw chicken necks or wings introduced early in life may help cats and small dogs. Remember to be very careful with hygiene when handling and storing raw chicken – only feed the chicken on the day you buy it, otherwise freeze it. Some dogs are too greedy and may choke on partly chewed bones. Dogs that eat a lot of bones may have prematurely worn teeth. Brisket beef bones are best for larger dogs who like to chew their bones right up – leg bones can shatter pieces off the sides of a dog's teeth.
There is a variety of these available. Some help decrease tartar buildup. Chews should be softer than the teeth and large enough that the pet cannot get the whole chew in the mouth, as they can obstruct or cause the animal to choke. Examples are Vegedent, Dentastix, Greenies and Rawhide.
GELS, SPRAYS AND MOUTHWASHES
Most of these contain chlorhexidine or xylitol to kill bacteria and significantly decrease plaque and tartar build-up. Prolonged use may cause staining of the teeth. Some pets do not like the taste.
Some pets require Professional Dental Cleaning (scale and polish) under a general anaesthetic. High-risk animals, for example - small breeds, brachycephalic (“squashed face”) breeds and dogs fed mainly soft food diets may need this on an annual basis to keep periodontal disease at bay. Cats with oral inflammatory conditions and FORLs (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions) may also need regular dental treatment.
Teeth damaged by trauma may be causing pain, infection and periodontal disease and need checking as soon as possible. Some may be able to be repaired if seen soon after being damaged. Many animals need extractions, always done under general anaesthetic with local nerve blocks and post-operative pain relief. Surgical extraction sites are closed with dissolving sutures.
Many animals with dental problems are elderly and may have concurrent heart or kidney problems. We may recommend pre-anaesthetic screening, e.g. blood/urine tests, to formulate the best treatment plan for each patient. Intravenous fluid therapy and blood pressure monitoring can minimise the risk to compromised animals.
PLAQUE is a mixture of food, bacteria and saliva which forms a film on the tooth surface within hours of eating. Soft plaque combines with mineral salts in the saliva to form tartar or calculus over time. When we brush our teeth, we remove plaque.
TARTAR is the hard, permanent deposit that builds upon the sides of the teeth when plaque is allowed to remain. Tartar has a rough surface which is ideal for further plaque. It looks like a brownish deposit when you look in an animals mouth.
GINGIVITIS is inflammation of the gums caused by plaque and bacteria and is visible as red, swollen or bleeding gums. Gingivitis may be painful and can be reversible if treated early. If not, the gums eventually recede and allow further tartar to build up loose teeth and periodontitis.
PERIODONTITIS is irreversible, leads to tooth mobility and tooth loss. It is a disease of the supporting tissues of the tooth, the gums, jawbone and periodontal ligaments. It
HALITOSIS is bad breath caused by the bacteria associated with oral health problems.
Some pets require Professional Dental Cleaning (scale and polish) under a general anaesthetic. High-risk animals, for example - small breeds, brachycephalic (“squashed face”) breeds and dogs fed mainly soft food diets may need this on an annual basis to keep periodontal disease at bay. Cats with oral inflammatory conditions and FORLs (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions) may also need regular dental treatment.
Teeth damaged by trauma may be causing pain, infection and periodontal disease and need checking as soon as possible. Some may be able to be repaired if seen soon after being damaged. Many animals need extractions, always done under general anaesthetic with local nerve blocks and post-operative pain relief. Surgical extraction sites are closed with dissolving sutures.
Many animals with dental problems are elderly and may have concurrent heart or kidney problems. We may recommend pre-anaesthetic screening, e.g. blood/urine tests, to formulate the best treatment plan for each patient. Intravenous fluid therapy and blood pressure monitoring can minimise the risk to compromised animals.
PLAQUE is a mixture of food, bacteria and saliva which forms a film on the tooth surface within hours of eating. Soft plaque combines with mineral salts in the saliva to form tartar or calculus over time. When we brush our teeth, we remove plaque.
TARTAR is the hard, permanent deposit that builds upon the sides of the teeth when plaque is allowed to remain. Tartar has a rough surface which is ideal for further plaque. It looks like a brownish deposit when you look in an animals mouth.
GINGIVITIS is inflammation of the gums caused by plaque and bacteria and is visible as red, swollen or bleeding gums. Gingivitis may be painful and can be reversible if treated early. If not, the gums eventually recede and allow further tartar to build up loose teeth and periodontitis.
PERIODONTITIS is irreversible, leads to tooth mobility and tooth loss. It is a disease of the supporting tissues of the tooth, the gums, jawbone and periodontal ligaments. It
HALITOSIS is bad breath caused by the bacteria associated with oral health problems.
Bay of Islands Veterinary Services has been providing top quality veterinary care to the animals of the beautiful Bay of Islands for over 50 years.
