|
Welcome to the YorkieTalk.com Forums Community - the community for Yorkshire Terriers. You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. You will be able to chat with over 35,000 YorkieTalk members, read over 2,000,000 posted discussions, and view more than 15,000 Yorkie photos in the YorkieTalk Photo Gallery after you register. We would love to have you as a member! Registration is fast, simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today! If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please click here to contact us. |
|
| LinkBack | Thread Tools |
04-11-2006, 11:24 PM | #1 |
YT 6000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Seattle, WA
Posts: 6,238
| [News] Specialists on Canine Dentistry and Grooming Share Tips Eight-year-old Celine seemed nervous but sat still as Dr. Steven Holmstrom looked into her mouth. His verdict: The Yorkshire terrier has Stage 4 periodontal disease. "This is the worst," Holmstrom, a veterinarian who specializes in animal dentistry, told her owners, Bob Hall and Anne Lynch of San Ramon. Just like people, animals are prone to dental problems ranging from gum disease to fractured or crooked teeth. Untreated dental problems can cause major health problems throughout the body. Veterinarians can and do treat many dental problems, but Holmstrom, owner of the Animal Dental Clinic in San Carlos, is one of only about 50 diplomates of the American Veterinary Dental College in private practice in the United States. In Stage 4 periodontitis, the gums, teeth and bones are being destroyed by chronic bacterial infection. Bacteria also might be spreading throughout the body, possibly damaging the kidneys, liver and heart. "The heart sounds good," Holmstrom said after listening to Celine's through his stethoscope. He told Hall and Lynch that he would treat Celine by anesthetizing her, X-raying her mouth, extracting teeth that can't be saved, then cleaning and sealing the remaining teeth. It's unclear how much bone loss there is, he said, but he'll try to save the canine teeth because they're essential to eating. He also told the owners that home care, including daily brushing, is vital to staving off further problems. "The brushing is the key," he said (see accompanying story). Even though Celine's periodontal disease was advanced, it wasn't all that unusual. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have signs of oral disease by age 3. Although tooth decay is relatively unusual in pets, cats are subject to feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions, which cause loss of dental tissue on the crown or at the base of the teeth. The lesions are often covered with gum tissue. Affected teeth must be extracted. Holmstrom said the problem is widespread among felines, afflicting 50 to 80 percent of cats. It is believed to be caused by too much vitamin D in cat foods, so most manufacturers are changing their formulas, he said. Just as it does in humans, most oral disease in animals begins with a buildup of saliva and bacteria in the mouth. This buildup becomes plaque, which hardens to become tartar. If the tartar isn't removed, areas along the gum line can become infected, leading to pockets between the teeth where more food and bacteria build up. Even after treatment, daily brushing is critical. A clean tooth remains clean for only 20 minutes. Bacterial colonies will start forming within six to eight hours, and tartar will form in three to five days. "In less than a week (after treatment), we have barnacles back on the ship," Holmstrom told Celine's owners. Signs of oral disease include bad breath, a change in eating or chewing habits, pawing at the face or mouth and depression. The animal might be reluctant to eat, play with chew toys or drink cold water. Other signs include brownish teeth; swollen, red or bleeding gums; loose teeth or loss of teeth; pus between the gums and teeth; broken teeth; and any unusual growths in the mouth. Owners who notice any of these signs should have their pet examined by a veterinarian. Even if the teeth seem healthy, they should be checked annually. Most vets do routine dental work, including cleaning. If more extensive treatment is needed, they refer the animal to Holmstrom, whose practice is limited to dogs and cats. However, he has been called in to treat other animals, such as marine mammals. Besides treating periodontal disease, Holmstrom does implants, root canals, orthodontics (yes, there are braces for dogs and cats), extractions and crowns. He also treats oral cancers. He charges $95 for the initial consultation and exam. Along with daily brushing, proper diet is important for dental and overall health. With one exception, Holmstrom favors the foods and treats recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council. The exception is Greenies Edible Dog Treats, which he said can cause obstructions if they're not the right size for the dog and if they're not fully chewed. (See sidebar.) If a food product doesn't bend or break easily or if you bite it and grimace, it's too hard for your pet, Holmstrom said. He's also wary of chew toys. "All chew toys are PG," he said, meaning that they require 'parental' guidance, or supervision. The animal shouldn't be able to chew and swallow them. Holmstrom grew up in Millbrae and graduated from Mills High School. He earned his degree from the University of Missouri in 1972. He opened his present office in 2000 after owning Companion Animal Hospital in San Carlos. He became interested in animal dentistry because his wife is a dental hygienist and his father-in-law is a dentist. His father-in-law introduced him to other specialists in human dentistry who trained him. He performed his first root canal on an animal in 1974. Holmstrom is president of the American Veterinary Dental Society, past president of the American Veterinary Dental College and the author of three dental textbooks for veterinarians as well as numerous articles in professional journals. His office has two operatories plus two examination rooms. He has three registered veterinary dental technicians on his staff, plus a dental resident in training, Cristine Mincheff, DVM. The UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine has a dental program available through the UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Resources Diplomates of the American Veterinary Dental College Jamie Anderson, San Francisco Veterinary Specialists, 600 Alabama St., San Francisco, (415) 401-9200; 901 E. Francisco Blvd., San Rafael, (415) 456-7372; www.sfvs.net Steven Holmstrom, Animal Dental Clinic, 987 Laurel St., San Carlos, (650) 610-9501; www.toothvet.info Milinda Lommer, Aggie Animal Dental Service, 2343 Fillmore St., San Francisco, (415) 533-2237; www.aggieanimaldentalservice.com Information www.cetdental.com, C.E.T. Home Dental Care products www.avdc.org, American Veterinary Dental College www.healthypet.com, American Animal Hospital Association www.petdental.com, Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. www.vohc.org, Veterinary Oral Health Council http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/vsr/de...efault_den.htm, UC Davis Veterinary Teaching Hospital http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/articl...OGC2I3MDI1.DTL |
Welcome Guest! | |
Bookmarks |
|
|
| |
|
|
SHOP NOW: Amazon :: eBay :: Buy.com :: Newegg :: PetStore :: Petco :: PetSmart