Animal dentistry has become an increasingly
popular service offered by veterinarians. Your pets, consumers of food and
drink as they are, do the same or similar damage to their teeth as we humans do
on a daily basis. The primary difference, of course, is that we get to brush
our teeth (most of us) daily. Your dog has his teeth brushed once or twice a
year? If you are looking for an expert in animal
dentistry in Victoria, look no further than Victoria
Veterinary Care. We can help with one of the most common plagues rampantly running
through pets these days: periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease is the altered state of the
periodontium, or, the structure surrounding the teeth. These structures include
the gingiva, the periodontal ligament, and the bone which surrounds the tooth. The
cause of periodontal disease is plaque. Plaque enhances the ability of bacteria
growth on the tooth and gingiva. These bacteria unleash inflammation of the
tissue which then prompts the burgeoning of gingivitis, the formation of pockets
between the gingiva and the tooth, as well as bone loss around the tooth. Periodontal
disease, if left untreated, will create bad breath and can enable potential loss
of teeth, appetite loss and difficulties with eating. Organs like the heart,
kidneys, liver and lungs all can be adversely affected by the bacteria and toxins
found as a result of periodontal disease.
Periodontitis
is the most common disease seen in dogs and cats. It has been estimated that periodontitis
affects 80 percent of the dogs and 70 percent of the cats over 2 years of age
across the country. The bulk of the emergence comes from a lack of animal
dentistry treatment for pets, but also genetics. Some breeds of dogs and cats
are more likely to have periodontal disease than others: Shi Tzu, Miniature Schnauzer,
Lhasa Apso, Yorkshire terriers and Maltese dogs. The two most popular cat
breeds plagued by periodontitis are Somali and Abyssinian.
Small
breed dogs are more likely to have periodontal disease than large breed dogs,
and older dogs are more likely to have periodontal disease than younger dogs.
The
primary means you have with which to fight periodontal disease is to prevent it.
This occurs with regular animal dentistry, primarily dental scaling and
polishing. Home care like tooth brushing (aim for daily, realistically, three
times a week would make a huge difference), oral rinses and dental treats are all
important to help keep gum diseases at bay for your pets. Early intervention is
key and will save your pet pain and tooth loss.
To learn
more about animal dentistry in
Victoria, call Victoria Veterinary Care at
952-443-3138 or you can Contact
Us.
