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Symptom
Checker
Checker
 | Abdominal pain | |
| Scratching | |
| Vomiting | |
| Diarrhea | |
| Halitosis (bad breath) | |
| Ear odor | |
| Scooting | |
| Limping | |
| Coughing | |
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Dental Disease
All pets will develop dental disease. Humans are instructed to brush and floss their
teeth twice daily and still need to have their teeth cleaned every 6 months. Pets never
floss their teeth, and rely on their owners to brush. It is not feasible to expect to brush
your pet's teeth twice daily. If you brush them once daily, great! You are making
enormous strides to keep your pet healthy. However, even if you brush them twice
weekly, you are making a huge difference.
Halitosis develops when tartar builds up on the teeth. Bacteria grows under the tartar
and causes the gums to recede. Gingivitis is inevitable and will cause pain and
bleeding. Bacteria will enter the blood stream and lodge in the heart and kidneys and
cause disease. Eventually the teeth will become loose and fall out or become
abscessed- both of which are quite painful for your pet.
Thankfully, there are abundant products that can extend the time between dental
cleanings. If you can brush your pet's teeth without getting bit, please do so as often as
you can. Use a children's toothbrush or the finger brushes marketed for veterinary use.
Do not use human toothpaste-use warm water or a veterinary formulation. There are
also rawhides that are impregnated with antibacterial substances, water additives that
help keep tartar at bay, and mouth rinses that are helpful in removing food off of your
pet's teeth. Any of these products are instrumental at keeping your pet's mouth
healthy.
Dental cleanings are still a necessity. How often and when to start will vary. Generally,
smaller dogs (Yorkies, Pomeranians, Poodles) will need to have dentals starting around
3 years of age and every 6-12 months. Larger dogs may be able to wait until they are
approximately 5 years old and then yearly. Feeding a canned diet and not performing
any dental preventatives above will shorten the time in between dentals and may cause
your pet to need a dental earlier in their life. Anesthesia is required to perform the
dental prophylaxis correctly. Every surface area of each tooth is cleaned and polished,
including the area closest to the tongue. The gum line is probed to assess the
presence of pockets or abscesses and radiographs are performed to assess the need
for extractions. Do not be alarmed if your veterinarian recommends a tooth be
extracted-it is common and can save your pet a lot of discomfort. Extractions are
usually only recommended if the root is diseased or if the tooth is already loose.
Halitosis can also be caused by oral masses such as melanomas or squamous cell
carcinomas. If you see any tissue that seems out of place in your pet's mouth or you
notice blood staining on rawhides, visit your vet immediately. Kidney disease and
diabetes can also cause bad breath. It is always a good idea to visit your veterinarian if
your pet exhibits bad breath. Most likely, only a good teeth cleaning will be necessary.
teeth twice daily and still need to have their teeth cleaned every 6 months. Pets never
floss their teeth, and rely on their owners to brush. It is not feasible to expect to brush
your pet's teeth twice daily. If you brush them once daily, great! You are making
enormous strides to keep your pet healthy. However, even if you brush them twice
weekly, you are making a huge difference.
Halitosis develops when tartar builds up on the teeth. Bacteria grows under the tartar
and causes the gums to recede. Gingivitis is inevitable and will cause pain and
bleeding. Bacteria will enter the blood stream and lodge in the heart and kidneys and
cause disease. Eventually the teeth will become loose and fall out or become
abscessed- both of which are quite painful for your pet.
Thankfully, there are abundant products that can extend the time between dental
cleanings. If you can brush your pet's teeth without getting bit, please do so as often as
you can. Use a children's toothbrush or the finger brushes marketed for veterinary use.
Do not use human toothpaste-use warm water or a veterinary formulation. There are
also rawhides that are impregnated with antibacterial substances, water additives that
help keep tartar at bay, and mouth rinses that are helpful in removing food off of your
pet's teeth. Any of these products are instrumental at keeping your pet's mouth
healthy.
Dental cleanings are still a necessity. How often and when to start will vary. Generally,
smaller dogs (Yorkies, Pomeranians, Poodles) will need to have dentals starting around
3 years of age and every 6-12 months. Larger dogs may be able to wait until they are
approximately 5 years old and then yearly. Feeding a canned diet and not performing
any dental preventatives above will shorten the time in between dentals and may cause
your pet to need a dental earlier in their life. Anesthesia is required to perform the
dental prophylaxis correctly. Every surface area of each tooth is cleaned and polished,
including the area closest to the tongue. The gum line is probed to assess the
presence of pockets or abscesses and radiographs are performed to assess the need
for extractions. Do not be alarmed if your veterinarian recommends a tooth be
extracted-it is common and can save your pet a lot of discomfort. Extractions are
usually only recommended if the root is diseased or if the tooth is already loose.
Halitosis can also be caused by oral masses such as melanomas or squamous cell
carcinomas. If you see any tissue that seems out of place in your pet's mouth or you
notice blood staining on rawhides, visit your vet immediately. Kidney disease and
diabetes can also cause bad breath. It is always a good idea to visit your veterinarian if
your pet exhibits bad breath. Most likely, only a good teeth cleaning will be necessary.
