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THREE MYTHS ABOUT PET DENTAL HYGIENE

February 24, 2007 12:35 am

TELL SOME PEOPLE they should brush their pet's teeth and you might get a giant horselaugh, but it's no joking matter. Almost 70 percent of dogs and cats over the age of 3 years suffer from periodontal or other dental diseases, making it their most common form of disease.

February is National Pet Dental Health Month, sponsored by the American Veterinary Medical Association and other organizations to raise public awareness of the issue.

Periodontal disease causes bad breath, painful, bleeding gums and tooth and bone loss. It starts with plaque, an invisible film teeming with bacteria, which attaches to the teeth and forms tartar, the brownish stuff that makes teeth look dirty. Tartar presses on the gums, forcing them to recede, and inflames them--that's gingivitis.

Tartar mineralizes into calculus, a concrete crust that can cover the whole tooth and spread below the gum line. The resulting bone loss can make the jaw so thin that it fractures easily. As gingivitis progresses to periodontitis, the teeth may become loose and fall out.

The mouth becomes "an apartment complex for bacteria," Dr. Andrew Olson of St. Francis Animal Hospital says. Dental disease can cause other problems like facial abscesses, eye infections and bladder infections--or worse.

"From the mouth, the bacteria can jump into the bloodstream and travel anywhere else in the body," Dr. Olson says. Infections can spread to the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys, causing diseases, damage and even death.

Cats also suffer from two other dental problems: feline odontoclastic resorption lesions and juvenile gingivitis.

FORLs are holes in the teeth that occur when a cat's body tries to resorb (take back in) its own teeth. Roughly 50 percent of cats 5 years old and up have at least one FORL.

"The tooth's got to come out," says Dr. Kathy Huntsman of Just Cats Veterinary Clinic. "That's a hump for clients to get over, because Kitty leaves with some teeth gone. But the results are worth it, when Kitty becomes playful and active again."

Juvenile gingivitis occurs in young cats when their body tries to reject its own teeth. "The cat gets a red line above every tooth," Huntsman says. "The gums become so inflamed, it hurts to bite, to eat, even to move. Sometimes, we have to remove all the teeth behind the fangs, because the cat can't tolerate them."

As drastic as that sounds, she says that most cats adjust remarkably, becoming "fat and happy" and living normal lives thereafter.

Bad breath is the first clue most people have that there's something wrong with their pet's mouth. Other symptoms, according to Dr. Kathy Kallay of Four Paws Animal Hospital and Wellness Center, include avoiding dry food or food altogether; refusing to play with balls or chew toys; and not wanting to be touched or petted in the head and mouth area.

"Some dogs will start rubbing their mouth or face on the floor or pawing it with their foot," she says. "They may drool more than usual, because their mouth is too sore for them to swallow."

Many times, however, there are no signs. "Dogs are pack animals with a pack hierarchy," Olson says. "If they show they're hurting, they lose status and get beat up. With cats, they're prey as well as predators. If they look weak, they're inviting attack. So again, they hide it."

Brushing a pet's teeth is the best way to prevent dental disease. It needs to be done once a day to be effective, because plaque starts to attach itself to the teeth in 12 hours and once it's done that, brushing won't remove it.

Dr. Andi Lindamood of Tidewater Trail Animal Hospital recommends starting the brushing habit when the pet is as young as possible. "Kittens and puppies are more receptive, and it gets the owners into the routine."

For pets of all ages, use a baby human toothbrush with soft bristles or a pet toothbrush that fits over the finger like a thimble. Never use human toothpaste, because fluoride is toxic if swallowed. Instead, use specially formulated dog or cat toothpaste, which contains plaque-killing enzymes and comes in flavors like beef and seafood. Brush gently and thoroughly, but don't worry about the inside surfaces of the teeth. Plaque doesn't attach there.

With pets who resist brushing, Lindamood suggests starting by letting the animal just taste the toothpaste. "After about a week, if they like the toothpaste, try putting some on your finger and rubbing it on their front teeth. You should eventually be able to reach the back teeth, and even progress to using a brush."

For busy people or obstinate pets, there is a product called Oravet that owners can apply once a week. It's a waxy sealant that slows down the attachment of tartar, although it doesn't remove tartar that's already there.

Veterinarians can recommend other products to help maintain pet dental health, including specially formulated foods and rawhide chews impregnated with chlorhexidine, a chemical that kills bacteria. However, not every over-the-counter dental aid is effective. Owners should look for ones with the Veterinary Oral Health Council Seal of Acceptance, which means they have been tested and proven to work.

It's also important not to give pets treats and toys that could damage their teeth.

"If you can't make a dent in a toy or treat with your fingernail, don't give it to them," Dr. Kallay says. "Toys like Nylabones are too hard, and so are Frisbees. They can hit the dog in the mouth and break their front teeth. Use a soft, cloth Frisbee-type toy, not a hard plastic one."

Besides home prevention, the other key to good dental health is regular professional cleaning, done on the recommendation of a veterinarian. The time between cleanings varies from animal to animal. Some dogs and cats can go two years between cleanings, while others need it every six months.

Both the veterinary community and pet owners are only now beginning to realize the importance of dental care for a pet's overall health.

"Dental care still isn't a part of the core curriculum in most vet schools," Dr. Kallay says. Like many vets, she has learned about pet dentistry on the job and through continuing education classes.

There is a fine line between educating clients and annoying them. "You have to choose your battles," she says. "An owner who views the pet as a member of the family is more interested and willing to take action. Somebody who keeps his dogs outside in a kennel and thinks they're lucky to get fed twice a day is probably not going to brush their teeth."

Dr. Lindamood's experience has been similar. "We still have a fair number of clients who turn off their brains when I talk about their pet's dental care. They don't understand the significance of it. Sometimes, you're able to win people over and sometimes you're not."

Dr. Huntsman's clients tend to be more responsive. "I rarely have anyone who says 'no' to dental treatment. Sometimes, I pop off a chunk of calculus bigger than the tooth itself, right there in the exam room, which is pretty dramatic. It immediately gets the person into the pet's mouth."

That's right where every responsible, caring pet owner should be.