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› articles by michael goldberg, dvm
Dental Questions Q: My new puppy has the loveliest white teeth. How can I keep them like that? A: I get many queries about maintaining a puppy's white teeth and fresh breath. There are a number of options as to the best way to accomplish this and, ultimately, to ensure good dental health for the entire life of a dog. I usually divide the task into a few different categories and, together with the owner, discuss which approaches are best for them. First I begin with a bit of nutritional information. The first myth: dry food is better than canned at preventing dental disease. An in-depth study in the Œ90s by a prescription company (Hill's) found no significant differences in tartar build-up in dogs fed kibble versus canned dog food, effectively refuting this long-held belief. Logically, there may be a slight benefit to having a hard kibble food that scrapes a dog's teeth when chewed, though I tend to tell my clients that this should not be relied on to keep the teeth and gums healthy. I have personally seen dramatic improvements in dogs' breath and dental hygiene as a result of the raw food and bone diets that are becoming so popular now. I have seen dogs switched from kibble to raw food show dramatic decreases in tartar and gingivitis in just a few short weeks. Certainly raw bones can physically abrade and knock some of that calculus off the teeth. I also feel that fresh food containing reduced amounts of simple carbohydrates causes fewer simple starches to linger in the oral cavity, leading to less build-up of calculus in the first place. I always warn owners about the risks of feeding raw bones, particularly in that if their dog is a "food guarder" he may try to gobble down large pieces of bone, which can result in fractured teeth or obstruction of digestive pathways. In practice, however, these complications are rare (with fractured teeth being more common). I believe an important element of dental hygiene is to make sure we develop good habits when our dogs are still young. There is no solid replacement for good a tooth-brushing routine. This can be developed with a puppy by introducing some yummy-flavoured toothpaste and making a bit of a game out of it at first. First use your finger and then gradually begin to introduce it on a brush. There are many varieties of toothbrushes on the veterinary market... long-shafted ones, three-sided ones, soft finger brushes which slip over the finger like a thimble, or there is the toothbrush in your cupboard that you have recently finished using. If a brush is too awkward to get in the pup's mouth, I generally recommend wrapping a thin section of Jay cloth, gauze or nylon stocking around your finger and rubbing the teeth with this. (I feel this adds some abrasion, which will aid in cleaning the teeth). There are many toothpaste-type products on the market. Most have a peroxide-like action, releasing enzymes after they are in the dog's mouth, providing an anti-bacterial effect. There are also some products on the market that have a stabilized chlorine molecule which decreases bacterial by-products and lessens the likelihood of plaque buildup. Your veterinarian should be able to suggest a product that will suit you and your pup. Toothpastes designed for humans are not at all suitable for dogs and should never be used, as they are not designed to be swallowed. Other products are dental "chews" in the form of rawhides impregnated with the toothpaste. They seem very palatable in my experience, though they don't replace brushing by any means. If you absolutely cannot brush, then they may help. A newer product available is a rawhide chew coated with "hexametaphosphate" (HMP). This has been shown to reduce the accumulation of calculus and to decrease gum disease, or gingivitis, significantly. This can also be discussed with your vet. The method of its action is that the HMP combines with dental plaque already on the tooth, forming a soluble complex with the calcium in the plaque (the calcium is what causes plaque to harden into calculus). The complex then diffuses into the saliva, preventing calculus buildup. Larger mouths tend to have fewer problems than smaller mouths. The general rule is the larger your dog, the healthier the mouth even if you follow no dental hygiene program whatsoever. All you Toy Poodle and Pomeranian owners take note! The small breeds need some active form of dental care if you want their teeth to be as healthy as possible. Dental scaling and polishing is best done under a full general anesthetic. Each tooth can be cleaned, right to the gum line and below, in this manner. After such a procedure, there is an excellent thin waxy substance (Pro-v-seal), we can apply to the teeth. This further protects the teeth and gums by physically preventing the adherence of bacteria and their by-products. This product can also be applied at home on a weekly basis. The wax gradually shreds and must be reapplied regularly. If owners have concerns about aged pets or anesthetic in general, there are alternatives. The teeth may be hand-scaled by an experienced person but they should also be polished as well to rid the tooth of the tiny abrasions that result from scaling that will only serve to attract more calculus in the long term. There are human hygienists that do offer work on pets with ultrasonic scaling equipment, but you should speak to your vet first. Read more Articles by Michael Goldberg, DVM... |
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vancouver animal wellness hospital Michael Goldberg, DVM; Sue Hughson, DVM 105 e. broadway, vancouver, bc v5t 1w1 / phone: 604.738.4664 / fax: 604.738.4694 Hours of Operation: Monday, Thursday & Friday: 9am - 6pm, Tuesday & Wednesday: 9am - 7pm, Saturday: 9am - 5pm © Copyright 2004-2006. vancouver animal wellness hospital. All rights reserved. › Contact Us › Privacy Policy › Sitemap › Home |