Many pet owners would be surprised to know that dental exams can extend their pets' lives.
"Two-thirds of all dogs and cats over two years of age already have dental disease," said Creature Comforts veterinarian Kim Daffner. "Long-standing oral infection is the No. 1 cause of heart failure in dogs and the No. 1 cause of kidney failure in cats. Gingivitis is also the most preventable."
Daffner said that dental diseases are just as bad for people, but because we're more proactive, go to our dentists and brush our teeth regularly, dental health doesn't usually cause as many problems.
"We have to be advocates (for our pets)," she said. "They need care, and we have to do it for them."
February is pet dental health awareness month.
Daffner said she recommends an oral exam every six months and that the vet will decide at that point if a cleaning is needed.
Animals need to be put under anesthesia to get a dental cleaning, so Daffner said it is important to do things at home to minimize cleanings. The more attention owners pay to their pet's teeth also can shorten the time the animal is under anesthesia.
"If it's caught early, they can be under for a half an hour or could be up to three hours for a neglected mouth," she said.
Daffner said the first thing owners can do is feed their pets a high quality diet, such as Iams, which costs about $10 to $30 per bag.
She said to look for foods that have dental diets and that all owners should talk to a vet they trust. Most food packages boast dental care and it can be confusing, she said.
"It can be really misleading walking the aisles of Petsmart," she said.
Daffner also said it is important for owners to brush their pet's teeth. She suggests brushing with CET pet enzymatic toothpaste, which costs about $6.
She also recommended dental treats such as Greenies for about $15 a bag. Daffner said it is important to look for treats and biscuits with dental enzymes.
"The cost of prevention is probably one-tenth the cost of going under anesthesia to get a cleaning," Daffner said. "Pet foods add two years to a pet's life. That is proven. That's 20 years on a human life."
Daffner, who is one of five vets at Creature Comforts, 5741 Sky Pointe Drive, is focused on dogs and cats, but owner Sharon Gorman takes care of many other exotic animals and reptiles.
Gorman said that besides dogs and cats, she will do dental exams on pot-bellied pigs, large cats, rabbits and ferrets.
"Ferrets can get as much tartar as a cat," Gorman said. "And I check rabbits to see that their teeth are aligned."
Gorman said there are no special dental diets or treats for exotic animals, but they still can have their teeth brushed.
"There are specific toothbrushes that make it more manageable. They also make finger brushes. The percent of clients that comply with brushing is very low. Ideally, owners would be brushing teeth daily. Most dogs, if not started as a young puppy, they are not cooperative," Gorman said.
Creature Comforts can apply Orovet, a dental sealant for animals that can help keep a pet's teeth clean. Once the sealant is applied, owners reapply a maintenance layer at home once a week. The sealant will generally extend time between dental cleanings.
Daffner said the dental exam that pets get every six months will be included in an overall physical exam. She said this is important because it's like a human getting an exam every three and a half years.
Creature Comforts is sending every patient home with Hills dental biscuits during February, and is open from 7:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
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