Question: Hello, I have two mini poodles, both 8 years old. They are having their teeth cleaned, and the vet said they have periodontal disease. He recommended X-rays as well, but are these really necessary? Are they harmful? — Lynne
Answer: Congratulations on doing the best to keep your dogs healthy. Dogs that get regular dental care live much longer than dogs that don?t. Small breed dogs are prone to dental disease. Routine dental cleanings every six to 12 months are very important for keeping the mouth healthy.
Since it is difficult to properly examine your dog?s mouth when he is awake, the pet is placed under general anesthesia for the diagnostic exam, cleaning, polishing, and fluoride treatment. It is during this time that X-rays are taken. It is even more important to take X-rays in dogs than it is with people.
People can tell you which tooth is hurting them and dogs can?t. Often even teeth that look perfectly normal will have disease that can only be detected by X-rays. X-rays will show the internal structure of the tooth and the surrounding bone.
Infection in the gums and supporting structures of the tooth can lead to loss of bone in the tooth socket. The tooth then begins to get loose and will eventually be lost if treatment is not started early.
Bacteria and plaque begin to build up as early as 12 hours after a cleaning. Then minerals in the food begin to turn the plaque layer into a hard substance called tartar.
Therefore, it is very important to brush your dog?s teeth regularly to remove plaque before it becomes tartar. Infection in the mouth leads to bad breath. The bacteria that cause the infection can get into the blood stream and settle in the kidneys, liver, and heart valves. Approximately 85 percent of dogs over the age of 4 years have periodontal disease. Kidney disease commonly occurs secondary to the periodontal disease. Most veterinarians recommend whole mouth X-rays every two years and X-rays of teeth that are abnormal at each dental cleaning in between.
Dr. Baker
Baker Veterinary Clinic
1801 S. Congress Ave.
West Palm Beach, FL 33406
Read more articles by Dr. Baker | Ask her a question
Source: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/pawshere/2011/05/03/regular-teeth-checkup-x-rays-a-must-for-all-dogs/
No comments:
Post a Comment