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What signs may my
pet show?
The first sign owner’s generally
notice is bad breath (halitosis)
from their pet’s mouth. Other
features of gum disease are
a lack of appetite, dropping
food from the mouth, weight
loss, pawing at the mouth,
aggression and red, sore
looking gums.
What effects can this
condition have on
my pet?
Studies have shown there to
be a link between periodontal
disease and heart, kidney and
lung disease. The bacteria in
the mouth can spread from
the inflamed gums all around
the body via the bloodstream -
the liver and kidney both filter
the blood, and as the heart
pumps blood all around the
body, bacteria present in the
bloodstream can then settle
in all three of these organs.
These bacteria can cause
significant organ damage,
and over time, their
function will begin to
suffer. Studies in humans
have also shown links from
gum disease to diabetes
mellitus, arthritis and
even strokes.
This evidence shows that gum
disease can be far more serious
than just smelly breath!
How can this disease
be managed?
The best cure is prevention! It
is a good idea to practice good
dental hygiene with your pet
from a young age, much like in
humans! Again, like with us,
daily tooth brushing can be very
helpful, although this is not
often practical, especially in
the cat.
Training your pet to get used
to a toothbrush and the
action of brushing as a kitten
or puppy can help in the long
run.Human toothpaste must
not be used, as the fluoride
can be very harmful! Instead,
special meat flavoured
toothpaste can be used, or
even brushing alone can help.
Dental chews are often very
helpful to remove plaque from
the teeth, and a ‘dry’ (biscuit)
diet is recommended.
What if this doesn’t
work?
If the condition is more severe,
or your pet is particularly at risk
to dental problems, a specialised
dental diet is recommended
that can help to draw the plaque
off the surface of the tooth
during the chewing process.
An annual dental check is
recommended, especially if
your animal shows one or more
of the risk factors mentioned
previously. A scale and polish
with dental equipment at the
practice will help to remove
harder to reach plaque - this
will require your animal to
undergo a general anaesthetic.
For already established gum
disease, extractions may be
necessary if the area around
the tooth is very loose these
teeth may also be rotten and
will be beyond repair. Dogs and
cats can often cope surprisingly
well without a few teeth and
their mouth will be a lot less
sore as a result. A course
of antibiotics and
anti-inflammatories
may also be
required.
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