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› articles by michael goldberg, dvm
Tooth and Gum Disease in Pets Q: What can I do for the health of my pets' teeth and gums? A: The obvious answer to me is that the feeding of a fresh food diet goes miles above anything that will keep your pet's teeth and gums sparkling clean and nice smelling. I have experienced this method of feeding for the past 7 years and have seen remarkable turn-around in the condition of the teeth and gums. For those of you who feel that raw food may have it's inherent hazards such as parasites or bacterial contamination, I would highly recommend that you include in your pet's diet at least raw bones. For cats, raw chicken bones seem to do the trick and for dogs, you can use buffalo or beef bones. I will caution though that if your pet is a "guarder" of bones and you can't take them away at will, I have seen these types swallow large pieces at once in order to avoid the bone being taken from them. This behavior can potentially result in the lodging of the bone in the wrong place and can make for a very sick pet. If your pet gnaws at the bone in a leisurely manner, then it appears that the abrasive action of the bone will keep the gums and teeth healthy for extended periods of time. There are a great number of products on the market either available through veterinarians or health stores that are also useful for dental care. Brushing your pet's teeth is something that can easily be done but I advise this to begin at a young age. If you get them used to it, they will be quite eager to have it done. A few quick strokes a day do go a long way at maintaining clean teeth and healthy gums. Should you discover that your pet has bad breath and yellow stain on its' teeth, if owners will not try to attempt to brush with regularity or if they are nervous of giving raw bones, then a scaling and polishing may be an option. The pet must be put under a general anesthetic to have the best job done though. There are a few local companies who offer a scaling and polishing without the anesthetic but your pet must be fairly cooperative to allow this to be done. Personally, I feel this may not address the plaque under the gum line, as it is a difficult area to clean without complete stillness on the pet's part. I personally believe that if the raw food diet is a staple, then the amount of dental disease will be minimal and over the life of your pet, they will need less anesthetic procedures to clean the teeth, resulting in overall improved health. 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 |
