Flipping the Lip

Dr. Marty Becker, America’s Veterinarian, says what you want is the whole tooth and nothing but the tooth! This includes flipping the lip.

Why is the done? To see if there is any periodontal disease going on. Tooth plaque is not an award! Periodontal disease is the number one health problem in pets and 80% of cats and dogs suffer from some degree of periodontal disease by the age of three.

In the early stages, it is easy to overlook the bad breath, the discolored teeth and the red gums. But, as it progresses, it is not just a nuisance. Its not just doggy breath in a dog or tuna breath in a cat, but studies show that with advanced periodontal disease there is damage to the major organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver, even respiratory disease. It is a serious health problem.

Dental disease is also painful to pets. Their teeth are not just for chewing and they are not just cosmetic (like people who like to get their teeth bleached!). They function as their hands. This is how they pick things up and carry things. Their teeth also help hold their tongue in place when they pant. Their teeth serve several different functions. They need healthy teeth and gums!

When you have periodontal disease, as a dog chews and the tooth wiggles, the bacteria works itself into the blood stream, doing major damage to the kidneys, liver, the heart and may even result in respiratory problems.

Some signs of periodontal disease you can look for are loose teeth and bleeding from the mouth, blood on their toys, they suddenly pull away when you touch their mouth, their appetite has changed, they drool excessively or drop their food and excessively foul breath.

Dr. Becker says that there are two things to the furry fountain of youth. The two things you can do: 1. Keep your pet close to their ideal body weight (which is what they weighed at about one year of age) 2. Have good oral health. Each one of these can add about 15% to a dog or cat’s life, which is an average of two years. You can add about 4 years to your pet’s life by keep them at an ideal weight with good oral health.

For your pet’s teeth, you need to do some kind of daily oral care. Even though Dr. Becker recommends this to all of his clients, only about 20% of them actually brush their pet’s teeth. Dr. Becker states that he brushes his dog’s teeth everyday, but admits that he doesn’t do this with his cats. When brushing their teeth, you need to use special toothpaste just for animals, which comes in many flavors such as salmon, chicken or beef. You also need to use a pet toothbrush. There are also special dental diets available such as edible toothbrushes, oral gels and dental treats. And now, there is even a dental vaccine by Pfizer called a Porphyromonas.

Dental disease is worse in small dogs. This is because their teeth are closer together and the saliva doesn’t flow as easily, so they can’t clean the teeth as well. Also, the bone that holds the teeth is thinner and they live longer.

So let’s stop the periodontal disease in our pets and get out there and brush their teeth!