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Bad
Breath Is Not Normal
It's a sign of disease!
Why
does My Pet Have Bad Breath?
Four hours after your pet has eaten a meal, plaque begins to accumulate
on the teeth. This plaque is material consisting of bacteria, saliva
and food particles. The bacteria begins excreting toxins and enzymes
that break down the gum tissue. As a result of this bacterial infection,
the gum-line becomes inflamed and you will notice a very foul-smelling
odor from your pet's mouth.
Over time if
plaque is allowed to remain on your pet's teeth, it mineralizes
into brown tartar that you can see. This tartar contributes to abscessed
teeth, which must be extracted. Other serious medical problems may
develop from the buildup of bacteria, which can be carried throughout
your pet's system. Plaque and tartar accumulation can also lead
to periodontal disease.
Why
is Dental Care So Important?
Dental Disease is the most common illness encountered in veterinary
medicine today, affecting 9 out of 10 pets. Unfortunately it is
also the most under-treated disease. Pets often go for years with
painful gingivitis or even a severe tooth root abscess without noticeable
clinical signs to the owner. Dental disease puts tremendous demands
on your pet's organs, weakening the liver, kidneys and heart. This
additional stress can lessen your pet's quality of life and may
shorten life expectancy. With proper treatment and management, this
disease can be controlled or prevented.
Warning
Signs of Dental Disease
You may
not be aware that your pet may be suffering with dental disease.
Bad breath and drooling are the most frequent signs of dental disease.
Others may act depressed. Some pets may show severe or sharp pain
while eating. Diseased gums are thickened, reddened and bleed easily.
Look for
these signs of dental disease:
-Bad breath
-Yellow or brown discolored teeth
-Red inflamed gums/loose teeth
-Reluctance to play or chew toys
-Swelling around muzzle or jaw
-Dropping food
Why
Professional Dental Cleaning Needs to be Performed Under Anesthesia:
A veterinary
dental exam and cleaning differs significantly from dental brushing
offered by a groomer or home dental care program. It is a multi-step
process which, to be accomplished properly and thoroughly, must
be performed while your pet is under anesthesia.
Six steps are
performed with every dental procedure at our hospital, with the
pet anesthetized:
| 1. |
The
veterinarian performs a thorough oral (mouth) exam. To accurately
identify and evaluate diseased teeth and determine proper treatment,
it is necessary to probe hard to reach difficult areas with
sharp tools. This procedure is very difficult to perform while
the pet is conscious. |
| 2. |
Dental
buildup is quickly removed with high-speed dental instruments
on the inside and outside of all teeth. Sharp hand tools can
be used only on the outside surfaces of "anesthetic free"
patients, which takes much longer. |
| 3. |
Root
planing removes dental buildup and pockets of infection under
the gums--the leading causes of gum recession, tooth loss and
organ disease from shedding bacteria. This is the most important
part of a dental procedure and can be performed only if the
pet is anesthetized. |
| 4. |
Loose,
infected or damaged teeth, and oral cavity growths,a re removed.
This can only be performed while the pet is anesthetized. |
| 5. |
Polishing
teeth is more than a desirable cosmetic procedure. Teeth cleaned
with high speed dental instruments or sharp hand tools cause
abrasions on the tooth surface, which can actually accelerate
the accumulation of tartar. Polishing retards tartar accumulation
by creating a smooth, clean surface and also leaves the teeth
"bright and white". |
| 6. |
The
last step involves application of a fluoride treatment to the
teeth to make them stronger and a barrier sealant to limit tartar
and plaque buildup. |
As you can see
from the foregoing, only 20% of the procedures necessary for a thorough
dental treatment can be performed without anesthetizing the pet.
Other problems
associated with dental cleaning without anesthesia include use of
restraints on the pet in order to perform the procedures, mental/behavioral
damage to the pet from experiencing the whole procedure and the
necessity of more frequent dental cleanings each year due to inadequate
cleaning.
MARK
YOUR CALENDAR!
February
and March are Dental Months at WVC. Call
early to make an appointment to take advantage of our
20% discount. If you are unsure
if your pet would benefit from a dental cleaning then please schedule
a brief exam so we can discuss their dental health.
Happy
New Year! Now is an excellent time to make sure your pet is current
on their exams, vaccines, fecal and other annual test like heartworm.
Call today to check your pet's status or to make an appointment.
STAFF
HIGHLIGHTS
Congratulations:
| It's
a Boy! - Congratulations to Veronica Nunez and her
family on the arrival of her first child, Donovan. |
 |
New
Employees:
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Jenn
Zinck is a certified veterinary nurse with a special degree
focusing on dentistry. She enjoys painting and riding one
of her five horses during her free time.
|
|
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Lynlei
Gilleo is our new bookkeeper. Outside of work she keeps busy
raising her two young sons and makes time for one of her passions,
photography. |
| Lyn
Martinenko, a long time resident of Corvallis joined WVC to
help us keep up on client communications. She loves all types
of animals and has many of her own. |
 |
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Haley
Riggs-Gilman joined our reception team in September and is someday
hoping to be a veterinarian. She loves to travel to places like
Australia, Fiji, Hong Kong, Singapore and has even lived in
New Zealand. |
| |
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Employee
of the Month Recipients:
left to right
Jacque Johnson (October 2006)
Amber Kuehnast and Michelle Best (November 2006)
(December 2006)
EMPLOYEES
OF THE YEAR FOR 2006!!!
Congratulation
to Jacque Johnson(left) and Tanya Henderson(right) for being our
Employees of the Year for 2006!!!
Willamette
Veterinary Clinic, P.C.
650 SW 3rd Street
Corvallis, OR 97333
(541) 753-2223
(541) 753-5750 Emergency
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