As dog and cat owners, we have all probably experienced bad breath in our pets. Regular brushing at home and yearly dental check-ups by your veterinarian can help to prevent odor problems, tartar build-up and eventual tooth loss.
The most common form of
dental disease in our pets is plaque and tartar build-up. The tartar forms
at the base of the tooth causing irritation to the gums (gingivitis). If
left untreated, the gums will pull away from the tooth and cause it to
eventually loosen and fall out. If your pet begins to develop problems,
bad breathe, tartar (brown stains on teeth), reddened gum line or bleeding from
gums, then your pet should be presented to your veterinarian for
evaluation. If the dental disease is severe, a dental cleaning would be
indicated.
A proper cleaning requires complete cooperation from the patient, so anesthesia is required. Depending on the age and general health status, pre-anesthetic blood work may be indicated. Although anesthesia always carries a degree of risk, the modern anesthetics used in our hospital minimizes the risk, even for older patients. The cleaning itself includes scaling by hand and using ultrasonic equipment to remove tartar, polishing to smooth any rough edges and a fluoride treatment to slow down tartar formation.
Prevention is always the best medicine, and at-home care is where it starts. If started young, most pets will learn to tolerate brushing of their teeth. Special brushes and toothpastes are made for both dogs and cats. If your pet is uncooperative, then the next best thing is to feed tartar control treats or diets. These will try and slow down the depositing of tartar and thus prevent the odor problem. So at-home care and yearly check-ups by your veterinarian can hopefully keep you and your pet happy.
ARTHRITIS IN DOGS
Arthritis is one of the more common problems that we see in dogs at Maplecrest Animal Hospital. The majority of cases are in older animals but arthritis can affect dogs of any age, for various reasons. The word "arthritis" means inflammation of joints. In early stages, the soft tissue surrounding the joint or the joint surfaces themselves become swollen and painful. In chronic conditions, permanent degeneration occurs and calcium deposits may form, reducing the flexibility of the joint and adding to the pain!
At first thought it would seem that arthritis would be an easy ailment to diagnose. Often, however, dogs are very stoic and show only subtle symptoms that they may be living in pain! Rarely do they cry out or whimper. Common observations may include:
- Limping
- Difficulty climbing stairs
- Difficulty jumping onto furniture or into vehicles
- Abnormal gait or "unusual running form"
- Stiffness after exercise
- Personality changes
Sometimes symptoms are more noticeable after sleeping or after weather changes. The diagnosis of arthritis is made based on compatible history, physical exam and often, x-ray pictures.
Causes of arthritis are numerous. Young dogs may suffer from developmental changes in bones that result in arthritis that is temporary in nature. Hereditary disorders such as hip dysplasia may occur in young dogs of the larger breeds. Older dogs often suffer from arthritis of the hips and spine. Traumatic injuries or infections can affect dogs of any age.
Treatment
options of arthritis range from simple things such as rest and weight control,
to use of anti-inflammatory medicines, to corrective surgery. Treatment
plans are based on individual needs of the pet and wishes of the owner.
Recently, several new anti-inflammatory medicines have been approved for use in dogs. These products have greatly increased our ability to safely provide pain relief and reduce the inflammation of affected joints.
Arthritis is not necessarily an ailment that our dogs "have to live with." It is often amazing to observe a return of that zest for life in pets receiving appropriate care and treatment!