Dental care of dogs and cats is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health care. In fact, a recent American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) study showed that approximately two-thirds of pet owners do not provide the dental care that is recommended as essential by veterinarians.
What's more, the American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three. Dental disease doesn't affect just the mouth. It can lead to more serious health problems including heart, lung and kidney disease, which makes it all the more important that you provide your pets with proper dental care from the start. The AAHA's Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats are outlined below.
Pre-anesthetic exam - Whenever anesthesia is needed, special considerations are taken to help ensure the safety of your pet. Your veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet to make sure he or she is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. Depending on your pet's age and general physical condition, your veterinarian may also run diagnostic tests, such as blood work, to check for any dangerous heart, kidney, or other conditions. Though there is some risk associated with any medical procedure, modern anesthesia is usually safe, even for older pets.
Anesthesia monitoring - During anesthesia, the medical staff monitors and records your pet's vital signs (such as body temperature, heart rate, and respiration, as well as other important factors) because this helps ensure the safety of your pet while undergoing anesthesia.
Dental Radiographs - Radiographs (x-rays) of the teeth are needed periodically in order to completely evaluate your pet's oral health. X-rays aid the veterinarian greatly in detecting abnormalities that cannot be detected under physical examination alone. In some cases, x-rays can confirm the need for extraction of teeth that are loose or badly infected.
Scaling & Polishing - Veterinarians use similar instruments as those used by human dentists to remove plaque and calculus from your pet's teeth. To smooth out any scratches in the tooth enamel, polishing with a special paste is also performed.
(www.healthypet.com)
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