The Link Late Summer 2019 The Link Aug-Sep 2019 v2 | Page 9

Dental Disease : Invisible Pain This month, vet Veronika Smart MRCVS, gives a brief overview of dental problems in pets. D ental disease in pets is extremely common and can cause chronic, debilitating pain. Studies show over 87% of dogs and 70% of cats over three years of age are affected. Problems often remain unnoticed by owners as early changes are subtle and animals instinctively hide chronic pain (an evolutionary tactic not to show weakness) and will often continue eating normally until the disease is very advanced. Pet insurers rarely cover dental disease, which means even the most responsible owners can be financially stretched to cover a necessary dental procedure that was previously unsuspected! Getting cover from a provider who will cover dental costs will pay dividends as your pet ages. ‘Prevention is better than cure’ is definitely true of dental care in pets. Daily brushing is ideal using a pet toothpaste and most dogs and some cats tolerate this very well! Every little helps so even if you only manage to brush twice weekly, this will still have a benefit and postpone the need for any dental interventions. There are also special dental diets and plaque softening products on the market that can help slow the progression of dental problems. What are the signs of dental disease? It’s easy to overlook dental disease as a cause of discomfort, particularly in older dogs as we often assume The Link that behavioural changes are caused by ‘just getting old’. However, mouth pain can result in significant changes in behaviour. Watch out for: Early on, there may be no obvious signs but we know from humans that dental disease can be extremely painful. • Gradual loss of interest in playing with or chewing toys Left untreated, dental disease can lead to heart, kidney and liver disease as well as predisposing pets to jaw fractures • Fussiness with food - sometimes favouring certain types of food, eating on one side only or problems picking up food • Rubbing or pawing at the mouth • Salivating (dribbling) more • Becoming headshy and not wanting the head touched Other symptoms include pain on opening the mouth, blood in the food or water bowl, smelly breath, red or swollen gums and yellow and brown or missing teeth. What can be done? Often, the above signs are only noticed once disease is severe. The best thing to do is to make sure you take your pet to see the vet every 6 to 12 months to be able to pick up problems early. Early dental disease can be reversed by a professional clean under anaesthesia, which means pets can keep their teeth for longer. As the disease gets more advanced, certain teeth would need to be removed but animals do remarkably well and owners often remark ‘they’ve got their old pet back’ after a dental, as the source of chronic pain has been removed! 17 Essendene Road | Caterham | CR3 5PB 01883 341306 email: [email protected] 9