Don’t ignore your pet’s oral hygiene

Minna Zutshi

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, February 19

Ever given a thought to the oral hygiene of your pet dog? If this sounds like a joke, you are probably ignorant about the basic needs of your pets.

“We keep dogs and cats as pets and feed them the food which is cooked and soft. This food is unable to clean the teeth automatically,” says Dr Arun Anand, Associate Professor at the Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, GADVASU.

Some pet owners have misconceptions that bad breath (Halitosis) is a normal feature in pets. These owners are not aware that periodontal disease may be the culprit. Dr Anand says if gingivitis (inflammation of gums) is left untreated, it may develop into periodontitis and ultimately into periodontal disease. “Dogs with periodontal disease and chronic oral infection may suffer from systemic infection which can further lead to infection in liver, heart and kidneys,” he said. Thus, a complete oral examination should always be a part of the dog’s regular check-up.

Exotic breeds vulnerable

Dr Anand says dental tartar, periodontal disease are more common in small-sized breeds of dogs such as Chihuahua, Pugs, Yorkies, Shih Tzu, Pomeranians.

Due to lack of owner awareness, most of the problems remain unnoticed in early course of the disease and are diagnosed only after halitosis (bad breath), severe pain or bleeding form mouth starts. At this stage, very little scope remains for repair; extraction of the affected tooth is sometimes the only option. Therefore, precise and scientific examination of the oral cavity should be a part of the routine physical examination after three years of age at least once or twice a year for early detection of common problems.

Oral hygiene must for pets

Dental problems in pets can be avoided by daily home cleaning and a good oral healthcare helps control plaque and tartar formation.

Dr J Mohindroo, Professor and Head, Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, says that advanced dental facilities are available at GADVASU at nominal charges. These include dental scaling with ultrasonic scaler and polishing, tooth extractions, dental radiography, flap surgeries and mandibular fracture repairs using various techniques.

“Dental cleaning and other oral surgeries are done under general anaesthesia. The University Veterinary Teaching Hospital has the state-of-the-art facility for performing dental procedures under inhalant anaesthesia maintenance which is very safe for pets,” he says.