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Volume 5 Issue 6

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Page 40 | Abby's Magazine - www.AbbysMag.com Dr. Marlene Siegel Pasco Veterinary Medical Center www.pascovet.com 813-973-2929 is at risk of loosing teeth. At this stage, extrac on is the recommended treatment of choice. The pet is also at risk for toxin absorp on into the blood stream. This is a serious threat to the pet's health and may lead to wide spread systemic illness. Advanced Periodontal Disease May Result In 1. Loss of gum ssue and/or bone around the teeth. 2. Development of a hole (fistula) from the tooth root into the nasal passages causing a swelling (abscess) under the eye or nasal discharge. 3. Fractures of the jaw following weakening of the jaw bone. 4. Bone infec on (osteomyeli s). Warning Signs There Is Periodontal Disease • Persistent bad breath • Gums that bleed easily • Sensi vity around the mouth • Pawing at the mouth • Gums that are inflamed (red), thickened, or receding • Loose or missing teeth • Loss of appe te • Stomach or intes nal upsets • Drooling • Difficulty chewing or ea ng • Irritability or depression • Purulent exudate (pus) around the tooth What You Can Do at Home 1. Look into the pet's mouth o en by gently pulling the lips up and back. The teeth in the back of the mouth need to be seen too. Plaque is worst on the outside (next to the cheek) than the inside of the teeth (next to the tongue). Look for changes in the gum (growths or black color changes). 2. Brush the teeth daily with either a finger cot or small toothbrush. Brushing the teeth less frequently will not prevent periodontal disease. I use a blend of essen al oils to brush with. Avoid toothpaste that foams (and needs to be rinsed) or that contains chemicals. 3. Feed a species appropriate raw diet supplemented with probio cs (I use milk kefir), plant based water soluble essen al vitamins and minerals plus fa y acids (all organic of course!) And There Is More…. Once or twice a year your fur child should receive a thorough physical exam by your veterinarian which includes a complete visual evalua on of the oral cavity. When stage one periodontal disease is noted, schedule a dental prophy (cleaning) which should be done under anesthesia. There are companies offering anesthesia free dentals, but these are only cleaning the visible tartar off the tooth, not cleaning under the gum where the real disease is occurring. A proper dental cleaning probes the gum around each tooth, checking the depth of the sulcus (the space between the gum and the tooth). Dental X-rays are the only way to see bone loss and other hidden dangers, like cysts, abscess's and cancer. If the disease has progressed to stage 3 or 4, it may require open root planning. In this procedure, a surgical flap exposes the periodontal pockets, created from bone loss due to periodontal disease. This allows for the removal of plaque, bacteria, granula on ssue and other debris. PREVENTION --- PREVENTION --- PREVENTION The best treatment is that which prevents the onset of the problem. A proac ve health care approach starts with feeding a species appropriate diet, performing regular brushing and rou ne veterinary dental care.

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