Teething problems

Even though they can't sport a broad and happy smile to greet their beloved owner and express delight, dogs still need to have gleaming and healthy teeth. An excellent dental condition is sure to make their caretaker grin from cheek to cheek.

BRIGHT CANINES: Dogs of all breeds and ages need extra care when it comes to their dental health.

"Dental health plays a vital role in keeping dogs of all breeds happy and illness-free. Poor dental health can lead to other severe diseases, and even sudden death. Therefore dog owners should monitor their animal's oral heath to prevent an untimely loss," said Dr Nusara Puntrapa, a local vet who is an expert in dental diseases of animals.

She said most dog owners rarely pay attention to their pet's dental health as they are under the misunderstanding that canine teeth are naturally strong and healthy. To them, brushing their animal's teeth is out of the question and a silly thing to do. But such negligence and ignorance can lead to a tragic ending.

"After every meal, to prevent gum disease, the pet owner should brush the animal’s teeth"

"Canine teeth are exactly like those of humans. They must be cleaned regularly and given a check-up every four months to get rid of tartar and to determine whether the dog has developed gum disease. Early detection increases the chances of successful treatment," said the vet.

She added that puppies aged three to four months should have their teeth examined by a vet, which can be done following their first annual vaccination shots.

Common abnormalities found in puppies include an incomplete set of milk teeth due to unusual growth and the wearing down of enamel that results in brown spots scattered on the surfaces of teeth.

Worn-down teeth are of two types. They may be the consequence of a genetic disease, or they may be the result of an accident such as having been severely hit by solids that have chipped away part of the enamel. In the latter case, the teeth affected can be effectively "fixed" with the aid of a dental filling. On the other hand, genetically-defective teeth cannot be completely cured.

"Each tooth has cells responsible for producing enamel. If these cells stop doing their duty, the tooth will be worn down gradually. After one tooth has been filled, however, other teeth can develop the problematic symptoms," said the vet.

Dogs with worn-down teeth are subject to a life of pain arising from their hypersensitive teeth. When the first layer of the enamel has worn down, the second layer, through which many nerves run, is easily injured. If a tooth is badly worn down, it must be extracted as fillings cannot help to alleviate the animal's suffering.

Puppies at the age of seven also need extra attention when it comes to their dental health. By nature, milk teeth will fall out around this period, but very often they don't fall out completely and need to be pulled because food particles left between the permanent teeth and the milk teeth cause the formation of tartar. In addition, stubborn milk teeth can disfigure the permanent teeth.

Responsible and caring owners must help to take care of their animal's dental health, and this starts with the food they give their pet. Traditionally, we always feed our dogs with leftovers and rice, but human food can ruin their teeth.

"Different kinds of dry food are specially manufactured for dogs of different ages, and they all help to clean the animal's teeth because they are somewhat hard and crispy.

"Apart from commercial food, canine snacks produced from animal hides or ground animal bones are also helpful. But the main problem is that, by nature, a dog will chew things with its regularly-used teeth and so tartar can accumulate on the hardly-used teeth. The owner must train it to chew on both sides of its mouth," said the vet.

After every meal, to prevent gum disease, the pet owner should brush the animal's teeth to ensure that all residue that can rot in the mouth and cause tooth decay is eliminated.

"Generally, the teeth of older dogs will have a layer of accumulated tartar, which can press hard against, and thereby inflame, the gum. Bacteria living in the gums can then travel through the blood vessels and cause infection in the liver and the lungs," she added.

Many dog owners misunderstand that they can give fluoride to their pet to prevent tooth decay, but such action is actually harmful to the animal if it is not done properly.

"We have to administer an anaesthetic if we want to do that because the dog can't hold the fluoride in its mouth. It will swallow it down, and the chemical can irritate its stomach. So don't give it to the animal by yourself," warned the vet.

Pet owners should use canine toothbrushes and toothpaste especially designed for the animal for easy and comfortable use. Brushing time should not be longer than one minute because the dog will lose its patience and will not cooperate the next time. "Brushing should be done once a day, every day if the pet owner has time. As for the tongue, just apply toothpaste onto it since that dental product is specially made to automatically keep the tongue clean."

"Canine toothpaste is edible, and it comes in different flavours to entice the animal into looking forward to teeth-brushing time," she explained.

To enable the dog to become familiar with this activity, the pet owner should start brushing the animal's teeth when it is still a puppy, and it should be carried out throughout its lifetime.

"A dog will always have a complete set of properly-functioning teeth if we keep its teeth clean and healthy regularly constantly. Also, pet owners must take their pet to a vet annually for a dental check-up. More importantly, at such visits, the vet can advise them on how to take care of their animal's dental health correctly," recommended Dr Nusara.