23rd September 2006

Put A Smile On Your Pet's Face

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Dental disease in pets is easily preventable, yet it is increadibly common. This month is Pet Smile Month, when hundreds of veterinary practices are offering free check-ups and advice on pets' oral health care.

Anyone who has ever suffered with tooth ache or gum disease knows just how debilitating it can be, yet thousands of cats and dogs in the UK are suffering in silence with dental disease. Pet Smile Month, running in September 2006, aims to increase awareness for the need to provide dental care for cats and dogs. During the month hundreds of veterinary practices across the UK will be providing free dental checks for pets.

Just like for humans, regular dental checks and the regular removal of plaque and debris can prevent pain and dental disease for pets. Unlike humans, there is no NHS for pets, and procedures which would be considered routine for a human, such as an x-ray or a scrape and polish, might have to be performed under general anaesthetic on a pet. This can be traumatic, carries the usual risks of anaesthesia and, if you don't have adequate pet insurance, it can be extremely expensive.

The problem of dental disease is incredibly wide-spread. It is probably the number one health problem for dogs - in fact, 4 out of 5 dogs over the age of 3 years suffer from gum disease. Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions or FORLs used to be known as Neck Lesions or Cat Cavities. FORLs are very common - according to one survey 72% of cats over the age of 5 years will have one or more FORLs. These can start simply with gingivitis - the accumulation of plaque around the teeth and gums. If left untreated, they can end in a tooth that is so damaged the crown has fallen off and the gum grown over the top, leaving a sore and infected root beneath.

Dental disease not only causes bad breath, pain, discomfort, and bleeding gums and infected teeth but can affect the whole body, particularly the heart valves and the kidneys, as bacteria spread from the mouth into the pet's bloodstream.

"We estimate that 80 per cent of cats and dogs over 3 years old need some form of dental treatment," says Pet Smile Month spokesman and founder, veterinary surgeon Bob Partridge. "Treating dental disease provides relief from pain and suffering - it can give animals a whole new lease of life."

There are a number of veterinary surgeons in the UK that see more complex dental cases. Pets who have had fractured teeth either need to have the tooth removed or a root canal treatment may be possible. This is where the dead contents of the tooth are removed and the tooth filled with a special sort of rubber. This way the tooth can remain in the mouth. This is important for some working dogs such as Police dogs or army guard dogs. Many show dogs can continue with successful careers after root canal treatments. But even ordinary pets can benefit from keeping a full mouth of teeth. As one simple example, if the upper canine tooth (the big fang) is removed from a cat - then the bottom fang can end up spearing into the upper lip when the mouth is closed.

Crowns can even be made for our pets' teeth. These can be more complex than standard human crowns - mainly because most laboratories will have little experience of the special shapes.

Tumours and growths are also quite common in the mouth. Accurate diagnosis and management (both medical and surgical) is very important. Often these cases are referred to veterinary dentists for treatment.

Orthodontics is the science of moving teeth. Sometimes this is necessary to prevent pain and trauma, although most vets would not perform orthodontics for purely cosmetic reasons. Even where there is a clinical need for the more commonly performed extraction procedure, some extractions can be very difficult to carry out in normal veterinary practice. There is also a condition of cats which requires all of the teeth (and especially the roots) to be completely removed. These are sometimes referred to a practice which has a special interest in dentistry.

The good news for pets is that although brushing is the best way to prevent dental disease, good dental hygiene does not have to conform to the twice daily brushing, daily flossing and regular use of mouth wash advocated for humans. For some pets, especially dogs, chewing on appropriate toys and dental "treats" can remove some of the plaque and debris that accumulates around the teeth and gums. One of the sponsors of Pet Smile Month, Pedigree, produces DentaStix, which are four-sided dog chews, which dogs see as a treat, but which get into the gaps between the teeth to clean as they are chewed. Another useful form of "dog flossing" can be achieved with chew toys made of rope. There is also evidence that dogs and cats that eat dried food, rather than a fresh, meat-based food, tend to have fewer dental problems too, as the food does not cling to the teeth and gums after eating to the same extent.

Gill Furniss, veterinary director at nutrition specialist Royal Canin, a sponsor of Pet Smile Month, comments, "Prevention is better than cure and if pet owners are fully informed about how to keep their pets' mouths healthy, it will make such a difference to their long term comfort and well being. We’re delighted to support Pet Smile Month and encourage as many pet owners as possible to take advantage of the free dental checks for their pets."

However, brushing our pets' teeth is the gold standard for prevention of dental disease. It is important to make sure that toothbrushing is fun for all concerned - otherwise it won't be done on a daily basis, and regular daily toothbrushing is key to prevention of dental disease. It is important not to use ordinary human toothpaste. This has not been designed to be swallowed and the mineral content may cause problems. Special toothpastes have been developed that are safe for pet use. These toothpastes are made in attractive flavours. You can also buy specialist pet toothbrushes that protect the owner’s fingers from chewing and even those that clean both sides of the tooth at once. Pet Smile Month has found a special toothbrush which actually cleans both sides of the teeth at once. This brush is available from your vet, or you can purchase it online from the Pet Smile Club area of the Pet Smile Month website.

The best part of Pet Smile Month is that hundreds of veterinary practices around the country are offering free dental check-ups for your pets and free advice on preventative dental health care to their owners. To find a participating local veterinary practice simply click on the map of the UK at www.petsmile.org and enter your postcode.

Pet Smile Month Practices are also organising art competitions based on the theme "A Healthy Smile". Winning entries will be forwarded to the National Competition with a chance to win a new Sony Playstation. Take your pet along to save them the pain of dental disease and give yourself the chance of a treat too.