Frequently Asked Dental Care Questions
What does my pet's bad breath come from?
Halitosis can come from several different sources. The most common source is overgrowth of bacteria in the mouth. Some of these bacteria produce sulfur compounds as waste products which impart an unpleasant smell to the breath. Normal breath in dogs and cats should not smell bad, but may smell of the food they just ate. Another source is kidney or stomach disease, which should be ruled out by your regular veterinarian. If they just ate something odiferous their breath may smell bad temporarily, but should clear in an hour or so.
How many of teeth does my cat have?
30
How many teeth does my dog have?
42
My dog has dirty teeth. I have tried cleaning them myself with canine toothpaste and brush, but it doesn't seem to help much. I do not want my pet to undergo general anesthesia. Is there anything else I can do?
Teeth must be cleaned to remove calculus and plaque. Bleeding gums is a sign of gingivitis and developing periodontal disease. While daily brushing is necessary and recommended, it cannot keep all the teeth entirely clean indefinitely. Animals, just like humans, must have periodic professional cleanings. To do this thoroughly and completely, anesthesia is necessary. Then, the client can brush the patient's teeth daily to maintain good oral health and prolong the time between such professional cleanings.
Can I scale my pet's teeth at home?
There is no way for the client to scale the pet's teeth effectively at home. While the cosmetic effect may be pleasing, underlying disease is being missed and tooth loss can still result. To be performed thoroughly, and all disease identified and treated, it must be done when the pet is under anesthesia. After the initial scaling and oral health evaluation by the veterinarian, the client can help maintain the pet's oral health by daily tooth brushing.
How often should I brush my pet's teeth?
For best results, teeth should be brushed daily.
How often should I have my pet's teeth cleaned?
This depends on the individual animal. Some dogs and cats, particularly the smaller breeds, or those with squished faces, need cleanings at least annually. Larger breeds may be able to go a little longer between cleanings. But the way to be sure is to have your veterinarian assess your pet's oral health at each examination so you can arrange to have them cleaned before periodontal disease sets in. Our pets are like humans in that regard. They are all different and there are no general rules for all.
Why do you use anesthesia to clean my pet's teeth?
I have heard about people who do it while the animal is awake? Non-anesthetic cleaning is only a cosmetic action. It may clean the surface you see, but 2/3 of an animal's tooth is below the gum line where you can't see it and so is 2/3 of the disease which can cause tooth loss and pain. Therefore an appropriate professional cleaning visit involves anesthesia to allow a thorough examination and diagnosis, dental x-rays to assess bone and tooth root health, scaling, polishing, and a fluoride treatment, by a trained, experienced, qualified veterinarian.
What types of monitors are used for anesthesia?
Our patients are monitored with a pulse oximeter, which measures the amount of oxygen in the blood; a blood-pressure monitor, an electrocardiogram, and an a CO2 monitor, which measures the amount of exhaled carbon dioxide, body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and reflexes. That way the staff is always aware of the patient's condition during anesthesia.
What is the risk of anesthesia?
Generally, anesthesia poses less risk than most people think. In the past two decades anesthetic agents have become safer and anesthesia done properly, with preparation and care, is very safe.
Is my pet too old for anesthesia?
For older animals the actual risk needs to be evaluated by the doctor because each patient is different. Blood profiles, chest x-rays and other tests may be performed before the procedure to fully evaluate the risk. But most of them can undergo anesthesia without problems.
My pet's tooth is purple. What's wrong?
A purple tooth is usually caused by trauma. Most of the time, these teeth are dying and require root canal therapy. These teeth should be examined and treated. Dental radiographs may also be necessary.
My cat picks up his food and drops it. Sometimes his mouth opens and closes rapidly when this happens. Why?
Dropping food may be a sign of tooth pain caused by a condition similar to tooth decay. This cat should be examined; dental radiographs may also be necessary.