Banesse 1

Alyssa Banesse

Mrs. DeBock

Block 3

October 12, 2017

Canine Oral Health

Oral hygiene in humans is a basic necessity to maintain a healthy lifestyle. On the other

hand, every-day people have yet to understand the importance of oral hygiene in animals, more

specifically, canines. A surplus of pet owners are oblivious to the multiple causes and effects of

neglected teeth cleanings. An absence of attention to animal oral hygiene can possibly result in

heart disease or even death. However, there are a multitude of preventatives and surgical

reversals a pet owner can consider. Similarly, those same pet owners are unaware of prevention

methods and surgical procedures that can only benefit ones pet. From professional medical help

to something as simple as a specially formulated doggy toothbrush, the options to provide a

healthy mouth are progressing and endless.

Humans and animals require certain care and maintenance to live a happy, healthy, and

prolonged lifestyle. Prevention and maintenance go hand in hand, and there are a multitude of

ways to achieve both. Daily brushing is the most effective preventative measure against

periodontal disease that can be performed at home (King). For some pet owners, constant

professional cleanings can be costly and strenuous. However, professional dental screenings are

far more effective in the sense that they use anesthetics to carefully put the patient to sleep. From

there on the hygienist is more capable of removing plaque from the problematic areas. These

include further back in the jaw, and on the resting gum line. Without anesthetics a pet owner

would not be able to give the dog the proper cleaning it requires. The effects of a regular oral
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visit can be achieved with an at home teeth cleaning with a toothbrush that can be specially

formulated for a canines mouth. Some are made to simply be attached on the tip of the owners

pointer finger. Certain techniques are recommended when easing into an at home teeth cleaning.

Brushing in a circular like motion for about five to ten circles work for one tooth (Marder). A

technique like this can lessen the amount of plaque and tartar build up, which are both harmful to

humans and animals. Another simple option includes a careful eye on ones pet. Checking

breath, gums, color, swelling of gums, and exposed teeth are vital when looking for early on

tooth decay and rot (Marder). Prevention is imperative, so a once a week check in with ones pet

is recommended. Another method to increase bacteria and plaque build up prevention, is to

change a dogs diet. The tooth breaks into the hard kibbles surface, without breaking it, thus

creating a sort of tartar and plaque scraper (King). Making this yet another painless approach to

extending a pets life. If a pet owner were to follow these painless procedures the animal would

maintain a healthy mouth and a prolonged life.

Any mammal, humans or dogs, could potentially be afflicted with the negative effects of

a neglectful upkeep. Bacteria is the main cause for almost all periodontal diseases. Many

experimental studies regarding periodontal illnesses relate tooth color to plaque, tartar, and

calculus buildup. If found in a decayed tooth, it can move through a dogs blood stream and

reside in the heart valves, which can then lead to fatal diseases (Harmer). Unlike majority of oral

health recovery, this may not be reversible and tremendously painful. An owner should be aware

of characteristics linked to heart disease. Symptoms such as a loss of appetite, weight loss, lack

of steady breathing, and heavy urination, display an immediate necessity to see a specialist.

These are primarily caused by weak or deteriorating teeth. As plaque and tartar accumulate on

the teeth, they create an environment under the gumline where normal aerobic bacteria become
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anaerobic bacteria, which are harmful to the tissues surrounding the teeth (King). If there

becomes a serious deterioration surrounding the tooth and the gum line, surgical procedures may

become a desideratum to prolong ones pet life. Dry food is said to be more proficient in

removing plaque and calculus build up (Ranjan). Wet food, if caught in between teeth, can

remain there and increase bacterial build up, which therefore will reduce the chance of acquiring

any type of periodontal disease. Although, with every disease or decay there is an achievable

method to reverse the effects shown.

A plethora of new technological advances has led to a prevention methods, reversal

procedures, and termination surgeries of periodontal diseases that have accumulated throughout a

dogs lifespan. Procedures as easy as an anesthetic based teeth cleaning to a tooth extraction to,

all require medical and professional attention. Depending on the severity of the tooth decay or

plaque buildup, certain surgeries may only work for specific cases. Certain machines and graphs

help in the diagnosis of bone decay and deformities. Using a dental radiograph of a patients

mouth is alway the primary step in deciding the next move (Kressin). A Radiograph is essentially

the same thing as an x-ray. It shows the veterinarian what is wrong, how to fix it, and in what

amount of time. As a matter of fact, dogs feel pain just like humans, which is a principle

indication in determining if tooth decay or any type of disease is prominent.. For a preventative

jaw maldevelopment, some veterinarians recommend a full teeth set extraction. This procedure

can immediately eliminate a painful traumatic occlusion and allow for a normal occlusion of the

secondary (adult) dentition (Kressin). A major topic of worry is the negative effects of a

surgical removal. Facial swelling, tooth discoloration, draining tracts, excessive bleeding, and

perforation of canals are just some to name a few (Kressin). Final radiographs should show any

remaining bone, debris, or root inside the canines mouth. Where the bulk of all complications
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derive is shown within the last radiograph. There should the surgeon discover a malfunction

would they proceed to fix to prevent earlier stated complications. Although these are some of the

more extreme procedures, they do happen to be routine in the sense that it occurs quite

frequently in animal health.

Oral health is a vital factor in sustaining a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle. Many a

procedures have been found effective in the preservation of ones pets oral health. Though it

may sound jejune, oral health in all mammals are existential. Without it many of unknown, and

what some might call unimportant, diseases and pain may take place due to a lack of attention.

All in all, a pet owner should remain cautious and proactive when protecting a canines oral

health.

Works Cited

Dale Kressin DVM, FAVD, DAVDC and Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Specialists,

LLC. "Dental (tooth) Extraction in Cats, Dogs, Rabbits and Other Species." Dog Tooth
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Extraction - Veterinary Dentist - Wisconsin,Dale Kressin DVM, FAVD, DAVDC and

Animal Dentistry and Oral Surgery Specialists, LLC. N.p., n.d. Web.

Hanks, Lisa A. "Care for the Aging Dog." Dog World 94.4 (2009): 34. MasterFILE

Premier. Web. 11 Oct. 2017.

King, Marcia. "Facts Versus Fiction: Dental Health." Dog World 95.2 (2010): 36. MAS

Complete. Web. 12 Oct. 2017.

Marder, Amy. "Can Your Pet Pass an Oral Exam?" Prevention 53.1 (2001): 154. Alt-

HealthWatch. Web. 17 Oct. 2017.

Ranjan, R., U. N. Zahid, D. K. Gupta, B. K. Bansal, and K. Dua. "An Epidemiological

Study on Periodontal Diseases in Dogs - A Clinical Study of 103 Canine Patients." Intas

Polivet 11.2 (2010): 274-77. Academic Search Complete. Web. 12 Oct. 2017.