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Teeth Cleaning in Pets - An Inconvenient Truth By Clinton Kay, DVM By far one of the most common diseases we see in dogs and cats over two years of age is dental disease. The first teeth to show signs are usually the large back upper teeth and the upper fang teeth. Early plaque quickly turns into tartar if left unattended. Periodontal disease typically follows, oftentimes noted by bad breath and irritated gums. I often have the conversation with my clients about home dental care and quite commonly hear the following: “They have a tooth brush at home but haven’t used it yet despite good intentions.” “They brush once a month or so…” “The groomer ‘cleans’ their pet’s teeth whenever it gets groomed (usually several times a year).” I then suggest that we look at dental care logically, namely how many times a month do they brush their own teeth (usually 60+ times) and in addition floss, rinse. Many of us also have our teeth professionally cleaned twice a year, in addition to x-rays, fluoride treatments, whitening, braces and more… Now, I’m not suggesting you whiten or straighten your pet’s teeth, but would you let your hair stylist clean your teeth? Do you go to your doctor if you have a tooth problem? What would your teeth look like if you brushed once a month? How long does it take to have your teeth cleaned? Now do you try to jump out of the chair or bite your dentist? You probably patiently sit while the dentist probes all around your teeth looking for pockets, hand scale, open wider, close a little, rinse, bite down on the x-ray plate then hold still for the x-rays to be taken. All while suction is collecting the water used to ultrasonically clean your teeth. Why are x-rays taken of your teeth? To look for disease that can’t be seen below the gums. Just as you experience pain with an abscessed or broken tooth, pets do too. My point is that proper pet oral care is no different from that which you and I receive, and virtually no animal will cooperate for the duration of the procedure. Doctors are not going to place a $2000+ digital x-ray sensor in the mouth of a conscious animal. General anesthesia is necessary to make the process safe for both doctor and patient. While some clients are afraid to have their pet anesthetized, the fact is it’s very safe when done properly. Sometimes I’m asked about veterinary hospitals that offer “anesthesia free” cleanings. The problem is that very few veterinarians, let alone their staff, have actual professional dental training, or use a dental x-ray unit. Unfortunately, it is really impossible to offer proper dental care without anesthesia and x-rays. Would you go to a dentist that didn’t offer anesthesia or x-rays? Dental procedures done correctly are time consuming, on average 1.5 hours for “simple” cleanings with 1 doctor and 2 support staff. We at SoBo Animal Hospital offer superior quality pet teeth cleaning. All of our doctors and technicians have advanced training in dentistry. All patients have dental x-rays taken. We take pride in our work but even we see cases that are better referred to board certified veterinary dentists and will not hesitate to recommend that when appropriate. Thank you for reading about our philosophy of pet oral care. Keeping their teeth healthy means keeping our pets healthy and happy. Please do not hesitate to call our office with any questions about teeth cleaning for your pet.
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