Pet dental care often overlooked
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POLSON — Most people schedule teeth cleaning for themselves on a fairly regular basis, but the patient getting her teeth cleaned on Aug. 20 was Mika, a nine-year-old German wirehaired pointer mix. Spring McKee, D.V.M. and co-owner of VetCare Montana, cleaned, scraped and examined Mika’s teeth and checked the roots using x-rays. Under general anesthetic, Mika was not objecting to the procedure.
As animals eat, morsels of food cling to their teeth just as they do to a person’s teeth. Dogs and cats that eat only hard food have less problems with dental issues according to www.familyvet.com.
If an animal develops a periodontal disease and it’s left untreated, the bacteria can get into the pet’s system and lead to heart, liver, kidney and bone and joint disease. Besides, anyone who has ever had a toothache knows it hurts.
The American Animal Hospital Association studied the problem and found that approximately two-thirds of pet owners do not provide the dental care recommended as essential by veterinarians. The website, www.healthypet.com, also cites a study by the American Veterinary Dental Society reporting that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three.
According to James McKee, co-owner of VetCare Montana, toothbrushes and toothpaste are a good preventative measure and much less expensive than cleaning, which involves a general anesthetic and pre-anesthetic blood work.
Most people can train their animals to tolerate getting their teeth brushed.
“But don’t use people toothpaste,” James said, because animals do not like it.
VetCare Montana carries poultry toothpaste for their feline and canine customers.
James said VetCare Montana has been doing three pet dental cleanings and checkups a week for the last month or so.
Remember to consider the dental health of your pets. Signs of gum disease include bad breath, drooling, difficulty chewing or eating, vomiting, swollen or red gums, brownish-yellow tartar on teeth, receding gums or loose or missing teeth.
