Small Animal Preventive Oral Care Flashcards
Why do we care about oral care in group settings?
- main communication tool of dogs and cats
- animals with painful mouths might not eat well
- stress
- poor nutrition
- poor oral health can lead to systemic dz
- oral signs may indicate other sys. dz
- gross and painful mouths lead to unadoptable or workable animals
Why can’t you use whether or not an animal is eating to determine if they have dental disease?
b/c many animals continue to eat even with dental dz, due to instinct
What are some signs of oral pain?
- ptyalism
- pseudoptyalism (conformation drooling)
- halitosis
- swelling or tracts
- preferred chewing objects (rocks, cages)
- sneezing, discharge, saliva quality
- anxiety and behavior issues can coincide
- decr appetite
- dropping of food
- coughing
- muscle asymmetry
What is the earliest clinical sign of periodontal disease?
- gingivitis; this is a host response
Define periodontal disease
localized, chronic inflammation and infection of the periodontal tissues
What is the immune response to periodontal disease?
- incr in serum inflamm proteins
- CRP and IL-6 increases
- contributes to systemic response in:
- cardiovascular dz (not same as in humans)
- arthritis
- renal and liver dz
- worsens endocrine dz
What other diseases has periodontal disease been associated with?
- Endocrine dz: Cushings, diabetes
- Obesity
- Kidney dz: oral signs
- Infectious dz
What are three specific signs of periodontal disease that make animals unattractive to potential owners?
- halitosis
- malocclusion
- stomatitis - poor grooming
What are easy ways you can provide good oral care?
- monitoring for signs of oral pain
- monitoring eating/drinking habits
- routine oral exams
- chews
- brushing
- dental treatment
What are ways kennels and catteries can prevent periodontal disease?
- Proper breeding practices
- appropriate pediatric dental care
- keeping dz free
What are important things for shelters/rescues to do to prevent periodontal disease?
- Education - understanding the importance
- Recognition - noticing periodontal dz or other dz with oral signs
- Early intervention - when to tx, how to prevent
What are you looking for during an oral exam?
- symmetry
- observation of eating
- palpation
- lift those lips
What are some treatments for periodontal disease?
- dental tx under anesthesia
- proper use of abx
- management of behavior, skin, and endocrine disorders
What are ways we can prevent periodontal disease?
- monitoring cage chewers
- brushing
- appropriate treats
- staff training
