Last week we finally cleaned Max’s teeth. Max is a 17-year-old Maltese terrier that has been his owner’s shadow for as many years. His longevity got me curious about the breed and a quick look at their history revealed some interesting facts.
The first known visual references to Maltese terriers date back to Etruscan artefacts originating from 500BC which depict a Maltese-like dog. J. Busuttil, who wrote a study of the Maltese terrier in 1969, cited several references to the Maltese terrier from ancient Greek and Roman texts – most noteworthy of which include Aristotle in 370BC, Pliny and Strabo. As with many breeds, their lineage continues to be questioned and researched but either way, the Maltese terrier has for several decades been recognised as a distinct breed in its own right. What has not been questioned is the liveliness of their character.
Even at his ripe old age, Max was true to his breed, stubbornly maintaining a feisty stance and refusing to cooperate with anyone other than his owner when handled. At the clinic, his gusty personality became all the more evident. And so did the bond between him and his owner. And it was because of this bond that his owner was so worried about getting his teeth cleaned.
Max’s owner had been debating for quite a while whether or not to get them done. On the one hand she was worried that Max was too old to withstand sedation; on the other hand, her dog’s bad breath had become so unbearable that she found herself starting to avoid cuddling him.
Bad breath, which is medically referred to as halitosis, is not a condition that should be taken lightly. Several conditions can affect the way your dog’s or cat’s breath smells and the symptom should be regarded not only as a clue that something is wrong, but also what to look out for.
Renal problems can result in the breath giving off a urine-like odour. Diabetes will give off a sweet or fruity odour. Gastro-intestinal problems will similarly alter the way the breath smells and this may additionally be affected by the type of food given to the pet, as well as food intolerances. By far, however, the most common reason for bad breath is an underlying dental problem. In fact, it is estimated that over 80 per cent of dogs and cats over three years of age have dental problems.
Teeth are the only outer part of the body that do not naturally shed their surface. This means that they are not self-cleaning. It also means that they are prone to getting covered by a soft, thin, sticky film that is pale yellow in colour.
Bad breath is not a condition that should be taken lightly
This film is made up of a mix of biological material and bacteria and is known as dental plaque. If left undisturbed, the plaque hardens, that is, it mineralises. When mineralisation occurs, it gradually builds up and transforms into tartar that is darker, thicker and harder. It is therefore less easily removed. The resulting build-up of bacteria beneath the tartar will eventually cause an inflammation of the gums.
Inflammation of the gum, or gengivitis, causes the gums to recede. The condition of receding gums is painful, results in exposed roots of the teeth and eventually causes tooth loss. This complex series of events will start to manifest itself with olfactory symptoms of bad breath. Your pet will suffer the pain of sore or bleeding gums and have increasingly more difficulty eating and chewing food. Left untreated, your pet will voluntarily stop eating just to spare itself the pain of eating.
Your vet will first give your pet a thorough oral examination. Depending on what is found first, a medical treatment may be required to reduce the infection and inflammation. The vet will then proceed with teeth cleaning under sedation or anaesthesia, depending on the severity of the case.
The process involves descaling and scraping of the exposed part of the teeth, as well as underneath the gum-line, that is, the edge of the gums. It may also involve the extraction of one or more teeth, depending on what is necessary. There is much that you can do to reduce the incidence of plaque and tartar build-up and spare your pet the pain of mouth disease with the inevitable teeth cleaning and quite possibly tooth extraction.
Firstly, there are a number of ways to reduce the build-up of tartar. Top of the list is the use of pet toothpaste and toothbrush at least three times a week. Your vet will explain how to administer the toothpaste. Please do not use human toothpaste, as it is detrimental to the health of your pet’s teeth.
There are also special dental diets as well as various edible treats and toys that are designed to aid teeth cleaning in a fun way. Natural remedies in the form of particular seaweeds are available that have the effect of reducing plaque formation. It would be a good idea to discuss the various options with your vet to understand the option best suited for your dog or cat, as well as your own lifestyle.
Different types of dogs and cats may be more or less prone to plaque and tartar formation. Smaller breeds of dogs do seem to suffer more than larger breeds and a considerable number of these dogs will need to have their teeth cleaned on a regular basis.
Having first taken a blood test that confirmed that Max was in good health and that his bad breath was not due to underlying medical problems, we decided to proceed with a full teeth-cleaning. A couple of teeth did need to be extracted as they were rotten.
I have since been told that Max is once again a pleasure to cuddle and play with, and assured he would be getting another dental check-up in six months’ time.
thisweekwiththevet@gmail.com
Dr Martin Debattista is a veterinary surgeon.