Dental Disease

Imagine a person who had not brushed his teeth in a month. Now extend the time between brushings to two, five, or fifteen years. Would you want to kiss that person? Be close enough to smell his breath? Even be in the same room as him? And yet for most pets and owners, that is the situation we confront. We cringe whenever our older pets breathe anywhere near us, but do we brush their teeth? Well, we can – and should – do just that. Not only will your pet’s breath smell better, your pet will be healthier as well.

Dental disease is one of the most common problems we encounter in veterinary medicine. Tartar accumulation and bacterial growth can lead to bad breath, damaged gums, bone loss from the jaws, decreased appetite, tooth decay and root abscesses. It is moreover an insidious disease with far-ranging effects; bacteria from the mouth can enter the blood stream and ultimately damage such organs as the heart, liver and kidneys.

Thankfully, dental disease is also one of the most preventable problems we encounter. Your pet is not doomed to a life of bad breath and painful teeth! Brushing is the single most important thing you can do for your pet’s dental health. Enzymatic chews, rinses and water additives can also help.

Proper dental hygiene can slow the rate at which tartar accumulates on your pet’s teeth, and thereby reduce the number of dental cleanings a pet might need during its lifetime. At some point, however, every pet – just like every person – still needs to have its teeth cleaned and polished. Our hospital possesses the latest dental equipment, including digital dental x-ray capability, to insure that dental cleanings are performed in a safe and effective manner.

National Dental Months. To help further the goal of proper dental hygiene for our pets, Kildaire is offering 10% off the dental procedure during dental months (February and Setember).

For more information about dental hygiene, visit Dentistry page.

Dr. Charles Livaudais