“Doc, Zoey’s breath is really starting to turn me off, expecially when she wants to kiss me,” The familiar complaint was being directed towards me, a veterinarian, not a marriage counselor. I petted the little Jack Russell terrier apologetically. “Let’s take a look and see how much dental disease she has here,” I replied. “Oh, but my wife takes her regularly to the groomer, and they clean her teeth every time she goes….”
Unfortunately, this scenario is not uncommon, and it can be far more dangerous for your pet than many people realize. Although scraping an animal’s teeth at the groomer has been growing in popularity over the last several years, it is illegal, and more importantly, detrimental to your animal. There is no way a dog or cat will allow deep dental cleaning without anesthesia. So the tartar that causes the most disease, that found under the gumline, and its accompanying bacteria, are actually building up as the pet continues to only receive its “awake” cleanings. Groomers and their assistants promote these cleanings as “safer,” yet they actually pose a very serious threat to your pet. Gingivitis (gum inflammation) and teeth infections spread quickly to vital areas of the body.
Have you ever noticed how fast a mouth cut or sore will heal? This is due in part to the excellent blood supply in the mouth. That same blood supply can rapidly distribute bacteria and their toxic by-products from the gums to the heart, kidneys, liver and other vital organs in the body. If the bacterial challenge is large enough or some part of your pet’s body is weak, or if your pet is older and compromised, then a heart or kidney infection may result. Bacteria left behind during an awake cleaning can enter the bloodstream and end up on the valves of the heart or in the kidneys. In addition, many of these people have had no formal licensing or training in the animal dental field. In fact, the only people that are thoroughly trained to clean and evaluate animals for dental disease are veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians. This is important, because over 70 percent of dogs and cats over the age of three years already have dental disease. The most qualified people to help detect this for you and your pet are the veterinarian and their trained staff.
You are likely confused, too, about the role of diet in Fifi’s tooth and gum problems. It is a misconception that HARD food equals TOOTHBRUSHING. Do your teeth feel nice and clean after eating croutons? Most dry dog food is chock full of carbohydrates, a key source of the sugars that cause tartar buildup! To find out more about pet foods, nutrition and the best foods for your little friend, keep checking out this blog-it’s in your future!
Let’s hear about YOUR experiences, questions and input about bad breath, tartar and those toothbrushing episodes with your kitty….
Post written by our fabulous guest blogger: Dr. Tiffany Margolin, ABVP- Avian (Special Interest in
Integrative Medicine)