Page 10 - Let's Make Waves - October 2018

P Pets’ Teeth Need
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T T
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Love Too!
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R by: Richard Henderson, D.V.M
ecently a client asked me why I thought his dog,
Beau’s, front side kind of smelled like his back side?
After having a brief internal chuckle, I asked if he
has ever looked into his pet’s mouth? To my surprise
he said he never thought to.

When I lifted Beau’s lips, the poor guy had several horribly in-
fected teeth and bleeding gums. A few extractions later and a
thorough dental cleaning, Beau’s mouth is as minty fresh as a
dog’s mouth can get.

In the United States,
dental disease is the While asleep dental x-rays are taken that help the veterinarian
most common condition make educated decisions about necessary treatment for infected
pets walk into the vet’s teeth. Dental care in pets has become sophisticated to include
office with and unfortu- pre-extraction nerve blocks, oral surgery, root canals and ortho-
nately often walk out of dontics. There are even veterinarians who specialize in dentistry
the office without the for difficult cases.
problem being adequate- During your pet’s annual veterinary check-up, the doctor will
ly addressed. Just by lift-
ing the lip of your dog detect early stages of dental disease and recommend a profes-
sional cleaning. It is important to follow this recommendation.
or cat and looking at the
teeth all the way to the Your pet will usually stay the day at the veterinary hospital, re-
rear molars, apparent ceive his treatment and go home the same day. The dental treat-
issues will be revealed. ment will involve x-rays, cleaning, polishing and extracting the
Teeth that should normally be white can be covered with brown severely affected teeth. It is amazing how much happier your pet
Teeth that should normally be white can be covered with brown
tartar. Gums that should be pink could be irritated and bloody. will feel after receiving this care. Moreover, his breath will smell
tartar. Gums that should be pink could be irritated and bloody.
Teeth that should be solid like anchors wiggle with little pres- much better when he gives you kisses!
Teeth that should be solid like anchors wiggle with little pres-
sure.
sure.
Ignoring the problem in the early stages will result in more se-
Even though “Rover eats just fine,” there can be advancing peri- vere disease and pain in the com-
Even though “Rover eats just fine,” there can be advancing peri-
odontal disease. Left untreated over years the results are usually
odontal disease. Left untreated over years the results are usually ing years. I tell pet owners, “It is
the same: pain and ultimately tooth loss. This is all easy to see;
the same: pain and ultimately tooth loss. This is all easy to see; better to clean those teeth now, so
just lift up those lips!
just lift up those lips! we don’t have to pull them later.”
Longstanding oral disease in humans and pets is associated with So, the next time you visit your
Longstanding oral disease in humans and pets is associated with
negative health of many other parts of the body. The immune
negative health of many other parts of the body. The immune veterinarian, ask the doctor to lift
system has to respond to this day-to-day infection chipping away
system has to respond to this day-to-day infection chipping away that lip and check those choppers.
at the body.
at the body.
If dental problems are identified when your pet visits the veteri-
narian, what can be done? We humans sit in the “torture chair,”
listen to the whine of the drill, hold on tight and just pray it
doesn’t hurt. Unfortunately, Beau or Miss Kitty would not stand
for the process that is involved in properly cleaning and treating Richard D. Henderson, DVM
their teeth. So, in the veterinary world, anesthesia is necessary to Galveston Veterinary Clinic
get the job done right. With today’s monitoring equipment and 2108 61st Street
anesthetic agents, “putting a pet under” is safer than ever before. Galveston, TX 77551
409.356.9000

10 | Waves Magazine | October 2018 Issue