Dog tartar
How to treat tartar in dogs?
Many dog owners insist on not letting their dogs have their teeth cleaned because they are worried that something will happen to the dog during the cleaning process.
I. What is canine dental calculus?
It is difficult for dogs to have the habit of brushing their teeth like humans. If you don't develop the habit of teething from puppies, it is actually quite difficult to brush your dog's teeth.
Canine dental calculus, which usually exists on the tooth surface and tooth neck at the opening of the salivary glands, is composed of calcium phosphate, organic matter, manganese phosphate, calcium phosphate and trace amounts of potassium, sodium and iron, and its appearance is yellow, brown or black.
Second, the etiology of canine dental calculus
1. The concentration of carbon dioxide in saliva is reduced, which promotes the precipitation of inorganic salts on the tooth surface.
2. Phosphatase of degenerated cells hydrolyzes organophosphorus to produce phosphorus, which is deposited on the tooth surface.
3. The pH value of saliva increases and becomes alkaline due to bacteria, which causes protein in saliva to decompose, releases calcium salts, and precipitates on the surface of teeth.
4. The formation of dental calculus is related to eating habits. There are no special dog breeds, genders and age restrictions. Dogs without good oral health care may suffer from dental calculus.
5. Dental calculus is a foreign body in the dog's mouth. It will continuously stimulate the periodontal tissue, and will compress the gums, affect blood circulation, cause bacterial infection of the periodontal tissue, cause inflammation and shrinkage of the gums, and form periodontal pockets.
6. When the periodontal pockets of dogs are formed, food residues, dental plaque and dental calculus are more likely to accumulate, and this new accumulation will further damage the deeper periodontal ligament.
III. Clinical symptoms of canine dental calculus
Owners often feel that the dog's mouth odor has become unpleasant, and the dog's teeth will appear plaque and tartar.
4. Treatment of canine dental calculus
The speed, shape and hardness of calculus formation varies from dog to dog. Generally speaking, it takes 12 to 15 hours for new calculus to form, and calculus that forms quickly is softer and more brittle than calculus that forms slowly.
Treatment is as follows:
1. The newly formed dental calculus is soft, and will gradually harden after a period of calcification. At this time, only the probe of the ultrasonic cleaning machine can oscillate the dental calculus to remove the dental calculus.
2. When cleaning the dog's dental calculus, attention should be paid to the condition of gingivitis and periodontal disease.
3. Dogs with severe dental calculus usually need to pay attention to whether they have bacterial endocarditis. If the equipment allows, the examination of echocardiography and electrocardiogram is necessary to reduce the risk of anesthesia.
V. Post-treatment status of canine dental calculus
If the dog has only mild dental calculus, the effect after scaling is good.