Animal Dental Clinic Tips
Tip 1
Be aware of possible dental/oral disease
You are the primary care giver for your pet. It's fairly straight forward to tell when your pet is feeling great, but the hard part is to detect then they are not. Knowledge and recognition is the best prevention when it comes to dental disease. We recommend periodically examining your pet's teeth and looking for any of the following symptoms:
· Bad breath that does not go away within hours
· Mouth sensitivity
· Pawing at the mouth
· Inability to close the mouth
· Loss of appetite
· Reluctance to chew
· Difficulty eating and chewing food
· Bleeding, inflamed, or receded gums
· Fractured teeth
· Changes in behavior
· Blood tinged water in the water bowl
· Swelling under the eyes or in the lips
Tip 2
We recommend daily brushing of teeth. Visit this site for brushing instructions:
http://partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/pet/fhc/brushing_teeth
Tip 3
Use a soft pediatric toothbrush. Special shaped ones for cats are available which allow you to get to the back of the mouth without stretching the lips.
Tip 4
Make brushing time a pleasant experience with a special treat or even a game or walk. If it is a struggle your pet will never allow it willingly and you will give up trying. If your pet does not like its pet toothpaste, use bouillon flavorings on the toothbrush instead. Never use human toothpaste in your pet’s mouth. They swallow it and can get a stomachache from it. Electric toothbrush can make brushing easier. Start the brush away from the mouth and bring it close slowly during initial introductions to them. Let them explore it before actually applying it to their teeth. It may take a while, but as long as it is not scary or does not hurt they will eventually get used to it.
Tip 5
All toys should be “parental guidance” to prevent mishaps. Clean toys regularly to prevent growth of fungi and bacteria, and remove grit, which can wear teeth down rapidly.
Tip 6
Don’t forget to include the calories in treats in your pet’s daily calorie requirement to avoid obesity. Fresh or canned vegetables provide a tasty, nutritional treat without lots of extra calories and dogs love them.
Tip 7
If you are having a hard time when loading your cat into the carrier to come to our clinic, try placing the carrier on its end with the door up, and lower the cat hind paws first into it. This often makes loading a less frightening experience for both of you.
Tip 8
All dogs should be on leashes. Your dog may be well behaved but we don’t always know how someone else’s dog will act. We are located on a busy street with low visibility between parked cars and your pet could dart out before you know it.
Tip 9
Tennis balls are a common toy for dogs and are thought to be soft and okay for the teeth. But, the outer fiber covering is remarkably abrasive and collects grit every time it bounces. This makes them wear down your dog’s teeth very quickly. If you must play fetch with them, wash them frequently to remove the grit and do not let the dog sit and chew on them after the game is over. Put them away for you dog’s teeths’ sake.
Tip 10
There are NO oral rinses that can substitute for brushing and regular professional oral health care. They can help by retarding plaque formation, but they do not help enough to ignore daily brushing and regular oral exams.