I
know and understand that some people have heightened senses of smell, but the
aroma of infected teeth, either one or multiple, is truly hard to miss. After
my primary response of repulsion, my immediate next response is one of huge
sympathy for the pet with this unfortunate circumstance. Pets with mouths this severely affected by
dental disease often have some facial swelling or a dull to tragic facial expression
that always gets my attention.
Many pet owners are more than
aware that their pets have dragon breath,
but what shocks me is that just as many are not aware that their beloved
four-legged family member is experiencing significant pain and/or flu-like
symptoms. Asking them to imagine if they
had one painful tooth, then to consider a mouth full of infected teeth, helps
to drive the point home.
Personally, I
had a recent incident with a chipped last molar that was mildly
painful. This minor discomfort brought
to mind again how many of my patients are suffering quietly with diseased,
painful mouths. My dentist accommodated me within a few days and put an end to
my dull ache, for which I was more than grateful. I cannot imagine having to live with that
level of pain or worse, as so many of my patients do, for indefinite time
periods.
Like my dentist, I always aspire to get these
dental patients back in my door as quickly as possible to end their
suffering. Because dental infections can
be far reaching, pre-anesthetic blood testing and careful heart health
assessments are conducted to see if the pet's severe dental disease has already
impacted their health. Unfortunately, oral bacteria quickly enter the local
lymph nodes and blood stream where they are then carried to the heart, kidneys
and liver.
Many do not realize that their pet's heart
murmurs actually originated from infections of the heart valves caused by oral
bacteria. Elevated liver values on
routine wellness testing may be secondary to this organ being constantly
bombarded by bad, oral bacteria in its role as the body's filtration plant. And, if your pet is being treated for kidney
disease, it is likely to be complicated by bacteria from the mouth as well.
Once a dental patient has a thorough physical
examination and pre-anesthetic blood testing, pre-operative antibiotics and pain medication
are prescribed. The pet is placed under carefully monitored, general anesthesia for ultrasonic scaling
performed by veterinary technicians.
Dental x-rays are taken as needed, then all diseased teeth are extracted
and the extraction sites are flushed with disinfectant solution. Some extraction sites are closed with
dissolvable suture, while others are too diseased to sew and will heal quickly
on their own.
The
final steps of a veterinary dental cleaning include polishing all surfaces of
the remaining teeth, followed by application of SANOS dental sealant. This Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) approved
sealant protects under the gum line and difficult to reach areas of the back
teeth. SANOS is clinically proven to last for at least 6 months.
Prior to dismissal of your pet from
the veterinary hospital after a dental cleaning, you will meet with a
veterinary technician who will discuss dental products and share tips on proper
tooth brushing/wiping. You will be
encouraged to begin DAILY dental care as soon as your pet's mouth discomfort
subsides to prevent the return of dental disease.
The common observation after a
"Potty Mouth" patient has had their dental disease addressed is
almost immediate improvement in comfort, expression and liveliness. The pet acts rejuvenated and pet owners are
pleasantly surprised by the new lease on life that the pet has received.
As
always, the best medicine is prevention, especially when it comes to your pet's
dental health! Brush or wipe your pet's teeth DAILY, feed dry pet foods and
dental treats, and provide appropriate chew toys. And, most importantly, be certain
your pet receives a thorough oral exam at every veterinary visit...twice a year
for life would be ideal.
Please don't let your pet's mouth reach
the point of exuding dragon breath! Remember
the one thing pets cannot do with their mouths is to speak for themselves to
describe their suffering.
By Dr. Bonnie Jones
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