We are seeing an increase in “Anesthesia-Free Dentistry”, or more accurately “Non-Professional Dental Scaling” (NPDS), at pet stores, grooming facilities, and more. The following is a concise, clear cut explanation on why NPDS should be avoided at all costs, written by Dr. Fraser Hale – a local board certified veterinary dentist:

1. Dental tartar is firmly adhered to the surface of the teeth. Scaling to remove tartar is accomplished using ultrasonic and sonic power scalers, plus hand instruments that must have a sharp working edge to be used effectively. Even slight head movement by the patient could result in injury to the oral tissues of the patient, and the operator may be bitten when the patient reacts.
2. Professional dental scaling includes scaling the surfaces of the teeth both above and below the gingival margin (gum line), followed by dental polishing. The most critical part of a dental scaling procedure is scaling the tooth surfaces that are within the gingival pocket (the subgingival space between the gum and the root), where periodontal disease is active. Because the patient cooperates, dental scaling of human teeth performed by a professional trained in the procedures can be completed successfully without anesthesia. However, access to the subgingival area of every tooth is impossible in an unanesthetized canine or feline patient. Removal of dental tartar on the visible surfaces of the teeth has little effect on a pet’s health, and provides a false sense of accomplishment. The effect is purely cosmetic.
3. Inhalation anesthesia using a cuffed endotracheal tube provides three important
   advantages – the cooperation of the patient with a procedure it does not understand, elimination of pain resulting from examination and treatment of affected dental tissues during the procedure, and protection of the airway and lungs from accidental aspiration. (As in human dentistry, water is often required for the rinsing of tissues. This water, along with dangerous pieces of removed calculus can be accidentally inhaled (aspirated) into the airway in an awake patient, which can cause massive inflammation and infection of the lungs and associated tissues).
4. A complete oral examination, which is an important part of a professional dental
   scaling procedure, is not possible in an unanesthetized patient. The surfaces of the teeth facing the tongue cannot be examined, and areas of disease and discomfort are likely to be missed.

At our hospital, a procedure requiring general anesthesia begins with a thorough examination by the veterinarian. Pre-anesthetic blood testing is performed for an overall impression of organ health, including the liver and kidneys, important in the metabolism of anesthetic drugs. An anesthetic plan is than carefully tailored to each patient, ensuring the absence of the sensation of pain, stress and anxiety, and a quick and uneventful recovery for the patient. A technician is present at all times, carefully monitoring the patient and anesthetic depth both with technology (the many monitors that we have here on site – see our Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring Page for more details) and with their hands and ears, frequently listening to the heart and lungs, assessing the pulses, gum colour, and more. This results in a safe, uneventful procedure that results in the improvement of the health of your pet, with no undue harm. As Dr. Fraser so rightfully states, NPDS = Fraud + Theft + Malpractice+ Animal abuse + Rotten PR. To quote him further:

Regardless of who provides the NPDS, it is wrong. It is wrong for a groomer to do it. It is wrong for a breeder to do it. It is wrong for an owner to do it on their own pets (even if they are a registered dental hygienist – they should know better). It is very very wrong for any employee of a veterinary facility to offer this service and it is even more wrong to accept payment for such harmful treatment. When offered within the context of a veterinary facility, even if it is at the grooming centre next door, the client has a right to assume that the treatment is safe and medically beneficial. Since NPDS is neither, it is wholly inappropriate to offer it.

_{This blog entry was written by Westbridge Veterinary Hospital, an animal clinic in Mississauga dedicated to providing high quality, modern veterinary care to our beloved pets and their families.}

If a pet has succumb to an injury, for example being hit by a car, basic diagnostics are required to ensure that any ailments are detected, and treated appropriated. For example, if they are limping afterwards, an x-ray is necessary to develop a treatment plan (e.g. is there a fracture?). When a pet presents with inappetence and vomiting for an extended period of time, diagnostics such as blood testing are necessary to determine the problem, and therefore develop a treatment plan. Do you see where this is going?

Well over 2/3 or 66% of a tooth in our canine and feline patient resides underneath the gum line. This includes the majority of the important structures of a tooth. With this in mind, the reasoning for dental x-rays can be put quite simply – it is the ONLY way to examine the entire tooth and all of its inner structures. To demonstrate this thought, a 1998 study (Verstraete et al. Am J Vet Res 1998 59: 692-5), in animals with abnormal findings on oral examination, full mouth radiographs showed other undetected pathology or disease in over 50% of cases. Further, in those with no clinical findings on exam, radiographs showed clinically important pathology in 27.8% of dogs and 41.7% of cats. If you would like more information on dental radiography including many real case examples of their importance, please visit our dental x-ray page on our website.

_{This blog entry was written by Westbridge Veterinary Hospital, an animal clinic in Mississauga dedicated to providing high quality, modern veterinary care to our beloved pets and their families.}

They are extremely painful and unfortunately extremely common, with over 30% of cats developing them in their lifetime. The premolars and molars are the most likely teeth to be affected, but they can also be found on the canines (‘fangs’) and incisors (the tiny teeth at the front of a cat’s mouth). These defects are often covered with calculus (tartar) and may not be noticed until the calculus is removed. The lesions may also be covered by hyperplastic gingiva (excessive gum growth due to inflammation) and filled with granulation tissue. Cats with these lesions are often, but not always, reluctant to eat hard food due to the pain involved. Others will swallow kibble whole without chewing or direct kibble to non-painful parts of the mouth. These lesions can so painful that even when the cat is under anesthesia, the cat’s jaw will twitch when the lesions are touched! Affected cats are typically middle-aged, but they have been seen in cats as young as 2 years of age. Purebred cats are the most susceptible, with the Persian and Siamese having the highest incidence.

The only treatment is complete extraction of the tooth and associated tissues, and often they are only identified by dental x-rays, as their development and origin begins underneath the gum-line.

_{This blog entry was written by Westbridge Veterinary Hospital, an animal clinic in Mississauga dedicated to providing high quality, modern veterinary care to our beloved pets and their families.}

For most people in Canada, regular visits are made to the dentist and hygienist, typically every six months to once yearly. For the remainder of the year, or for the rest of the 363 to 364 days, we are responsible for our oral hygiene through daily brushing, flossing and rinsing. Without this, there would be a constant progression of periodontal (dental) disease, and the same is true for our pets. As pet owners, we are responsible for the daily care of our pets, which includes care of their teeth. While chew toys and very specific diets can help, such as Hill’s t/d carried in our clinic, daily brushing is the most effective tool we have to maintain oral health and prevent dental disease. Below are ten easy steps to incorporate tooth brushing into your daily routine with your pets.

1. The first step is to work with your pet’s mouth. With a little patience your pet will soon accept your attention. Make it fun for both of you. Use a lot of love and especially praise to gain their confidence. Try to have your practice sessions at the same time each day so your pet gets into a routine. Late in the evening often works well, as everyone involved is generally in a quiet mood then. If your pet is highly motivated by food, try just before dinner with the meal acting as a reward for cooperating.
2. Start by handling the muzzle and tickling the lips and soon you will be able to rub the teeth and gums with your finger. Put a few drops of water, flavored with garlic or garlic salt in the mouth daily. They will soon look forward to this treat.
3. Next, use a washcloth or piece of fabric, wrapped around the end of your finger and flavored as above, to gently rub the teeth.
4. Finally, use a soft toothbrush to brush the teeth – we have many options for pet toothbrushes right here in the clinic, and can demonstrate their use with you. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle to the tooth and brush back and forth or up and down. Brushing the inside of the teeth is not necessary, and unless you have a very tolerate pet, may make brushing more of an undesired activity for them. Use the garlic water or tuna juice. Make it a game.
5. Brushing at least three times weekly is the most ideal, with daily brushing of course much more effective. Human tooth paste is to be avoided as it contains products that can be toxic to our pets. Baking soda can be dangerous to older patients due to the excessive amounts of sodium, and hydrogen peroxide can be toxic to the delicate oral tissues and is harmful if swallowed. We carry veterinary toothpastes that contain enzymes and microabraisives to make brushing more effective, though it is the actual brushing that is the most important.
6. It helps to give abrasive foods and toys such as dry kibble, raw hide strips and dense rubber chew toys such as those made by Kong®. Hill’s Prescription Diet t/d is a dry kibble maintenance food for dogs that has been scientifically proven to significantly reduce plaque accumulation. Avoid natural bones, dried cow hooves and hard nylon toys as these are hard enough to fracture teeth.

A consistent home-care program will greatly improve overall health, and contribute to the longevity of our pet. This will result in fewer required professional cleanings here at our clinic, increase the day to day comfort of your pet, result in fewer lost teeth as your pet ages, and an overall happier, healthier pet.

_{This blog entry was written by Westbridge Veterinary Hospital, an animal clinic in Mississauga dedicated to providing high quality, modern veterinary care to our beloved pets and their families.}

We also have dental related promotions for the two months, so please contact us for details!

Chocolate contains theobromine, a xanthine compound in the same family as caffeine, which is toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities. Xanthines affect the nervous system, cardiovascular system and peripheral nerves. Signs of toxicity in your pet may include hyper-excitability, increased heart rate, restlessness, muscle tremors, vomiting and diarrhea. Left untreated, a toxic dose of chocolate could lead to fatal heart arrhythmias and seizures. Baking chocolate is the most toxic, containing the most theobromine, with dark chocolate in close proximity and milk chocolate being the least. These compounds are toxic to our feline friends too; however, they seem to be more averse to chocolate than their canine counterparts. Older animals, especially those with underlying heart disease, are even more susceptible to the dangerous side-effects.

So what is a toxic dose? This depends on many factors including body weight and body composition. As an example, a toxic dose for a 10 pound dog or cat would be only half an ounce of dark chocolate, or 4 ounces of milk chocolate. If your pet has consumed chocolate, please contact us immediately, or a veterinary emergency hospital in the event that we are unavailable.

_{This blog entry was written by Westbridge Veterinary Hospital, an animal clinic in Mississauga dedicated to providing high quality, modern veterinary care to our beloved pets and their families.}

We will make sure next year to have more spots available to accommodate. Last year, we managed to raise $1000 in the month of October. This year, we increased that number to a whopping $1,700.00! A special thank you to those who participated in our Farley Spa Days, Farley Nail Trims, Farley Kits, Farley Paw Prints and those who gave general donations! See below for our Wall of Farley!