Prevent Bad Breath in Pets
Periodontal disease is characterized by excessive tartar accumulations,
bad breath (halitosis), and inflammation of the gums. Every pet
develops some degree of periodontal disease. How severe it gets
depends on what is eaten, how much chewing occurs, the presence
of other diseases, the effectiveness of the immune defense mechanisms,
and the level of dental care provided.
Bad breath can also be associated with mouth infections. Stomatitis,
a severe inflammation of the soft tissues, periodontitis infection
of the tooth supportive tissue), severe cavities (caries), tooth
fractures, lodged foreign bodies (stick or bone caught in the gums)
and tooth root abscesses can all produce foul breath odours. For
these latter conditions, intervention with antibiotics, pain therapy,
and surgical repair may be indicated.
To control periodontal disease, preventive oral hygiene is critical.
Oral hygiene begins with a proper diet. Feeding your pet a dry pet
food is more effective than feeding moist foods in provision of
adequate chewing exercise and gum stimulation. Additional cleaning
can be achieved by providing dry chew treats, and for dogs, rawhide
strips and chew toys. Animal bones are not recommended for chewing
because they can break teeth, damage the gums, or cause intestinal
upsets.
Some newer diets and treats have integrated tartar control components
and these are an excellent adjunct for pets that are prone to oral
disease.
A dental home care program should be carried out. Daily care is
ideal, but even twice weekly brushing of the teeth and gum has proven
benefit. Although dental care is most easily accomplished in the
kitten or puppy about the time the permanent teeth erupt, it can
be introduced gradually in the older pet as well. The brushing procedure
should initially be kept simple and should be followed with a pleasant
reward. For example, brushing only one or two teeth with water,
and then gradually including more teeth, and finally adding a veterinary
dentifrice to the regimen at a later time is a good progression
for training. Avoid the use of human toothpastes. Select one of
the tuna or other pet-friendly flavours instead. The foaming action
of the human paste detergents can cause an upset stomach and if
swallowed daily can lead to stomach and gut irritation.
Ideally, a soft infant toothbrush or a brush designed specifically
for use in pets should be used. If this is refused, a soft cloth
wrapped around the index finger can be used to clean the teeth and
gums. Finger brushes (i.e. pediatric rubber fingers with small brushes
built-in at the tip, available from your veterinarian) are especially
effective. Your veterinarian can also demonstrate the correct method
of brushing so that your fingers are safer and brushing is most
effective. Note that inner surfaces of the teeth that sit next to
the tongue in cats do not need careful brushing because of their
naturally abrasive tongue. Your veterinarian may also recommend
use of a mouthwash or rinse.
While both baking soda paste and hydrogen peroxide/ water mixtures
have been advocated in the past as suitable dentifrices, currently
available commercial products are preferred, especially those that
include chlorhexidine or stannous fluoride. These are available
from your veterinarian as a liquid or toothpaste.
For more information on proper dental hygiene for pets, see your
veterinarian.
Reprinted with permission from www.animalhealthcare.ca
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