Teeth!

Today's blog is about canine oral health! 

Teeth are normally neglected by owners as not many people know that your dogs mouth needs just as much attention as their grooming needs. I am writing this blog because a very regular Maltese client passed away a couple of days ago due to chronic dental disease. 

Peppi was a 12 year old Maltese. He came in without fail every 6 weeks to be shaved off short all over as he was prone to getting ticks. Despite Peppi's teeth he was in good health. Peppi was 11 years old when I first met him and I remember informing the owner that his teeth were in terrible condition and a majority of them needed to be pulled out. The nature of my personality is that I am very quietly spoken and I don't like to pressure people but I really wish I had pushed this matter further with the owner as she never took me seriously and Peppi came back 6 weeks later still with a rotting mouth. Every visit from there on Peppi became harder and harder to groom around his face and every visit I would tell the owner about the teeth. Peppi's last visit with me he did not seem well at all, deep down I knew that would be the last time I would see him. I told the owner when she picked him up that Peppi was not well and needed to see a vet. I think she could really hear the concern in my voice and agreed. 

A few days later I got a phone call from Peppi's owner saying she had him put to sleep. His kidneys and liver were failing and his white blood cell count was through the roof indicating that he was battling an infection. She admitted to me in the end that the infection stemed from his mouth and she expressed her apologies for not listening to me. Her excuse was that she did not realise how severe canine oral disease was. And sadly, a lot of owners don't understand it. 

RIP Peppi, may you be forever young and pain free up in Rainbow Bridge.

Signs of Canine Oral Disease

• Bad breath
• Excessive drooling
• Inflamed gums
• Tumors in the gumsThere
• Cysts under the tongue
• Loose teeth

Canine dental disease scoring chart

How to prevent dental disease

- Bones: Every dog loves to chew on a bone. It is not only great mental and physical stimulation it is also a great way for dogs to clean their teeth! Don't bother with chicken wings or necks as they are mainly cartlidge. A nice marrow or brisket bone will do the trick. Be careful that the bone isn't so big that your dog will break its teeth chewing on it though!

- Chew Toys: There are some great toys on the market at the moment that promote chewing and will clean the dogs teeth whilst they chew. I don't have any personal experiences with these as my dogs have never enjoyed toys.

- Dog Treats: I don't really encourage the use of treats as they seem to go hand in hand with pet obesity but there are some really good and healthy treats that promote good oral care. Dentastix and Greenies are great, but remember, all treats in moderation! 

- Tooth Brushing: You can buy special doggie toothpaste and brushes from any pet shop or online. If you can keep your dog still for long enough this is a very effective way of keeping your dogs mouth clean. It has to be done every day to be effective. 

- Professional Teeth Cleaning: Any licensed vet will be able to do a professional teeth clean, much like what a human hygenist does to our teeth. It is recommended every 2 years but it can be quite expensive. 

This poor dog has extreme dental disease and is probably in a lot of pain. 

Types of dental disease

• Periodontal disease is a painful infection between the tooth and the gum that can result in tooth loss and spread infection to the rest of the body. Signs are loose teeth, bad breath, tooth pain, sneezing and nasal discharge.
• Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums caused mainly by accumulation of plaque, tartar and disease-producing bacteria above and below the gum line. Signs include bleeding, red, swollen gums and bad breath. It is reversible with regular teeth cleanings.
• Halitosis—or bad breath—can be the first sign of a mouth problem and is caused by bacteria growing from food particles caught between the teeth or by gum infection. Regular tooth-brushings are a great solution.
• Swollen gums develop when tartar builds up and food gets stuck between the teeth. Regularly brushing your dog's teeth at home and getting annual cleanings at the vet can prevent tartar and gingivitis.
• Proliferating gum disease occurs when the gum grows over the teeth and must be treated to avoid gum infection. An inherited condition common to boxers and bull terriers, it can be treated with antibiotics.
• Mouth tumors appear as lumps in the gums. Some are malignant and must be surgically removed.
• Salivary cysts look like large, fluid-filled blisters under the tongue, but can also develop near the corners of the jaw. They require drainage, and the damaged saliva gland must be removed.
• Canine distemper teeth can occur if a dog had distemper as a puppy. Adult teeth can appear looking eroded and can often decay. As damage is permanent, decayed teeth should be removed by a vet.

I hope I have given some of you a little in site into the importance of canine oral health! Please feel free to ask at your next appointment to perform a FREE oral health check if you are unsure about your dogs teeth.

Source: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/ten-steps-your-dogs-dental-health