Gum Disease – The no 1 health issue in our dogs and cats

Gum Disease - The Number 1 Health Issue in our Dogs and Cats

by Alison Frost

One of the things about caring for animals as a job is that you can't help but be really interested in the subject because we are dog owners ourselves. We are always on the lookout for interesting information, particularly about animal health so were surprised to learn that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of three  years suffers with gum disease (periodontal disease).

It's not just about dog-breath!

As if smelly dog breath wasn't bad enough, what is even more worrying are the potential health problems that can arise from untreated gum disease, including some heart conditions and cancers.

Spotting dental problems in animals isn't necessarily easy: no matter how painful toothache is, dogs and cats aren't good at letting us know when they are in pain. Look out for these signs:

• Change in eating habits- e.g. a usually greedy dog that is off their food or showing signs of distress when eating.
• Reluctance to eat
• Changes in behavior or temperament
• Persistent bad breath
• Unexplained weight loss
• Brownish tinge along the gum line
• Blood in the saliva

Gum disease in wild animals is unusual, so why the sudden increase in this relatively new disease?

In this excellent article about gum disease, Dr Karen Becker, suggests that what we feed our dogs and cats is causing them dental problems, together with a lack of understanding about the importance of good dental hygiene in pets.

Over the last thirty years the way we feed dogs and cats has changed dramatically with the trend towards feeding biscuit-based 'complete' food. As dog walkers we hear anecdotes of vets recommending biscuits for dogs because they 'clean their teeth', which is a bit like suggesting that a McVities Digestive is a useful tool in our daily dental hygiene routine!

So how do we protect our dogs' and cats' teeth from the dental epidemic?

• Start cleaning your dogs teeth early in life: though this is not right for everyone - I certainly know my two dogs do not like their teeth being cleaned by me! There are tooth brushes and meaty smelling toothpastes available from your local vets or pet shop.
• An “e-cloth” for teeth: Lintbells produce a natural, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal cloth cleaner which is less invasive so easier to use.
• Feed our pets well: biscuits and treats can contain lots of added sugars, which do exactly to your pets what they do to us. There are specific marketed tooth products such as Dentastix on the market, but they can be surprisingly high in carbohydrates themselves. Dogs and cats are carnivores, you can see that in their teeth.
  
  Cats and dogs fed on raw meat foods have much less peritoneal disease than than those fed on commercial feeds. Raw bones from your butcher naturally clean teeth each time they eat (don't feed cooked bones that can splinter and harm your pet, don't leave them unsupervised if your dog is not used to them or is prone to aggression with food like 'guarding')

• High quality chews- we recommend Stag bars , they wont splinter, chip or cause blockages. We do not recommend raw hide chews or any cooked bought stuffed bones because they have a high risk of splintering or causing obstructions.

• Anti Plague powders- If your dog can’t tolerate bones and high quality chews a natural anti plague powder that you can sprinkle onto their food can help.
• Every so often have a look in your pets mouth for cracked teeth, inflammation, bad breath or rotten teeth. If your dog or cat is showing signs of discomfort ask your vet to have a look.

Keeping a close eye on our dogs' and cats' dental health should help to ensure they have a great smile like Archie here, and live long healthy lives.