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                                   Do I Really Need to Brush My Dog's Teeth?

When I was in veterinary school in the mid 70”s (Yes, I know I’m old!) the care of a dog’s teeth was barely mentioned, maybe in a lecture or two and often revolved around the right way to extract a badly infected or broken tooth. But then something happened. Research began to show that the origin of some of the heart disease and other infections in the dog’s body originated from the heavy load of bacteria in their mouth. At the same time our pets were shifting from working farm and ranch dogs to our beloved four legged family members living (and often sleeping) with us indoors. Veterinary medicine had to play “catch up” to human dentistry and then to spread the knowledge to our clients and convince them that it really is important to care for your dog’s (and cat’s) teeth and gums.
About 2 decades ago the American Veterinary Medical Association came up with National Pet Dental Health Month every February. Veterinarians throughout the country started marketing and discounting dental care every February to educate clients on dental care for their pets. Buellton Veterinary Clinic chose to go with a cost saving “Dental Package” year-round at that time and it exists to this day.
The sophistication of veterinary dental care has increased dramatically. A specialty in dentistry exists with residencies available at many veterinary schools after graduation. Veterinary dentists are becoming a common occurrence in specialty practices in many of our larger cities. We now know that routine care of your pet’s mouth will go a long way to keeping them healthy, not to mention sweeter doggie kisses.
As far as brushing your dog’s teeth, it really is more like a rubbing motion giving a lot of attention to both the gums and the teeth. It’s best done with a soft brush, gauze or even a somewhat rough wash cloth. Cavities as we know are rare in dogs, but gum disease is really the number one problem. Once those gums become inflamed and start to recede away from the tooth, a professional cleaning and polishing is usually needed to prevent tooth loss. There are now many products (mostly flavored to be acceptable to your pet) to rub along those gum lines. This is really the most practical way to deal with dental disease prevention in your cat. Most cats will not accept an owner moving around in their mouth and cat bites are always a concern. Gently applying a medicated gel is more practical in the cat.
A complete dental exam is included in all physical exams at Buellton Vet. A grading system exists toallow veterinarians and clients to identify what stage of dental disease exists in their pet and when a dental prophylaxis (hopefully without extractions) is needed. Anesthesia has been proven necessary to properly remove the bacteria that exists beneath the gum line and properly attend to the inside surfaces of the dog or cat’s teeth. A Dental Score of 1 or 2 in your pet’s mouth usually indicates either no or very early dental disease. These animals can often be treated with routine brushing and medicated gels toslow progression of dental disease. Please feel free to call the clinic if you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s mouth.
Finally, the answer to the question – Yes, you really should brush your dog’s teeth! (and treat your
cat’s too!)

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