Local veterinarian discusses importance of pet dental care

DELMARVA – Just like humans, pets need regular dental care.

This includes taking care of their teeth at home, as well as regular checkups with a vet. Dr. Marianne Bailey with the Queenstown Veterinary Hospital says brushing your dog or cat’s teeth is the most important step in their oral care. She says it’s best to start when they’re young in order to ensure good habits through their entire life.

There are also several products out there designed to help prevent dental diseases in pets, including treats. Dr. Bailey recommends brands such as Greenies and Milkbone.

“A lot of these products are great because they vary from things you could add to the water to dental chews. There’s a lot of things that you can try that are not all just a toothbrush and toothpaste.”

Oral exams should also be conducted at least once per year, and ideally every vet visit. Dr. Bailey says she commonly sees periodontal disease in dogs, which happens after bacteria develops under their gum line. This leads to weakening of the tooth, which in turn tends to result in infections and the need for tooth extractions. Cats can develop resorptive lesions, which are similar to a cavity and may also require extractions.

Dr. Bailey also warns that dental care for pets can be costly. A thorough exam for pets requires anesthesia in order to complete them correctly and safely. There are some options that don’t involve anesthesia, but Dr. Bailey says there are disadvantages to these exams.

“They can’t take x-rays, so we can’t really see what’s going on under the gum line and with their teeth. I feel like pet owners are better off saving their money and putting it towards a true dental cleaning under anesthesia and getting those x-rays.”

Dr. Bailey recommends checking out the Veterinary Oral Health Council for a full list of recommended dental products for both cats and dogs.