Pet Dental Success Stories – Page 2 – Dr. Sandra Truli Springer, Holistic Vet House Call Services

6-Year Old Maltese Needs 12 Teeth Removed

“How can we save molars?” you ask.

Or, How 3 of Those Teeth Could Have Been Saved

Including 3 Questions All Pet Parents Ask When They Are Told Teeth Need Extraction

Also Including the Important Tip: What Are the Most Important Teeth?

maltese dog recovering from tooth surgery — Bennie wakes up after his oral surgery.

Bennie’s Bad Breath

A little white fluffy dog trimmed in a two-inch puppy cut wagged his whole hind end along with his tail as Doc Springer patted his head and leaned in to check his teeth.

Benny had terrible breath! His front incisors moved a little when yours Truli touched them lightly. His molars were hard to get a good look at because he wiggled so much, but the Doc could see some of them overlapped and they were covered with tartar.

“Bennie needs to undergo dental surgery,” Doc Springer said.

“But he’s only six years old!” mom said.

Continue reading “6-Year Old Maltese Needs 12 Teeth Removed”

Where Did This Yorkie's Tooth Go?

Dogs have six lower incisor teeth. These are the little lower teeth in the front in between the big canine or eye teeth on the four corners of the front of the mouth.

If your dog is missing one for no reason, get it checked out!

x-ray of Lower front middle incisor tooth missing and root fragment stuck in the jaw — Can you spot the root fragment?

Another Good Example of Why You Need Full Mouth X-Rays Every Patient, Every Time

GiGi was a five-year-old female spayed black and tan Yorkshire Terrier. Her parents could see the tartar build-up on her teeth, so they scheduled an anesthetic dental exam the same day as her annual check up. Good thing they did!

It does not matter how many times I advise people to brush their dogs’ teeth. Most people can’t be bothered. People love the idea of their dog much more than the reality of another living being. A little accomodation and learning on your part will keep your dog’s teeth healthier and can add Years – YEARS – dog your dog’s too short lifespan. Years.

GiGi’s x-rays showed a retained incisor root overlapping an incisor that was loose and sitting in an infected tooth socket. Probably, the crown, or top enamel part, of the broken tooth snapped off, the gums healed over, and then the festering root caused the early demise of the neighboring tooth. (In the picture, the lower right middle incisor is missing, there is a gap in the teeth, and a little overlapping root fragment sticks out.)

Imagine your tooth snapping off and you never tell anyone or complain. Doesn’t seem possible, does it? Dogs suffer silently exactly like this all the time. Continue reading “Where Did This Yorkie's Tooth Go?”

Prevent Periodontal Problems: How to Brush Your Pet's Teeth

If you are half-way normal, you are thinking, “Dear Heavens! (If you are aged 90)” “Holy crap! (If you are 40)” and “What the F***!! (If you are <30)" "Is periodontal homicide happening to my pet right now??????"

“Doc Truli, how can I prevent periodontal problems?”

If you are half-way normal, you are thinking, “Dear Heavens! (If you are aged 90)” “Holy crap! (If you are 40)” and “What the F***!! (If you are <30)” “Is periodontal homicide {pomicide} happening to my pet right now??????”

YES

Sorry, it’s the truth. Actually, if you are truly lazy, it’s happening to you, too. Flossing your teeth every day adds 6 years to your expected lifespan. (Unless you’re already 90, then I’m not so sure…) Brushing your pet’s teeth daily and having a deep cleaning, and x-ray study under anesthesia once a year adds 2-4 healthy years to your cat or dog’s lifespan.

Continue reading “Prevent Periodontal Problems: How to Brush Your Pet's Teeth”

The Down and Dirty of Pet Dental Disease

Grade 4 out of 4 Periodontal disease, and the tooth will have to be extracted; it cannot be salvaged.

Doubtful Italian Greyhound

Many Pets Harbor Hidden Painful Periodontitis

Or, How an Italian Greyhound Ends up Needing 17 Teeth Extracted...

Periodontal Disease refers to problems with the bone, gums, tough little fantastic periodontal ligaments inside the sulcus (tooth socket), basically everything around the tooth itself.

Doc Truli fills us in,”A careful exam of each tooth and 6 points of the gingiva around each tooth, and dental radiographs (x-rays) reveal hidden periodontal disease. There is no other way to find out what is wrong with your pet’s teeth. This examination requires general anesthesia, every time, every pet.”

Continue reading “The Down and Dirty of Pet Dental Disease”

Dental Healthcare for Puppies and Kittens

Learn what problems may start before a puppy is 12 weeks old!

Crossbite in a mixed breed dog.

Dental Healthcare starts as a Puppy and Kitten

No kidding! Your precious pup or kitten needs to be assessed right from the start for oral health status. Some life-long problems can be prevented as young as 8 weeks old! Continue reading “Dental Healthcare for Puppies and Kittens”

Hidden Horrors: Dog and Cat Dental Dilemnas

First in a series of pet dental health posts, with links to good articles.

Half of this tooth is sitting in an abscess. Can you tell which half?

February is National Pet Dental Health Month in the U.S.

Doc Truli declares Earth Pet Dental Health Month. Everyone is welcome to help their pet feel better, look younger, and live longer! The Doc will devote a series of posts all month long just to pet dental health.

Proper dental care adds 2-4 healthy years to a pet’s expected lifespan. And old-age diseases like arthritis delay for 2-4 years, too.

Would you like your Chihuahua to live to be 18, instead of 14? Of course you would!

Continue reading “Hidden Horrors: Dog and Cat Dental Dilemnas”

Non Anesthesia Dentistry (NAD)

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.

Pug with Tongue Out Because Canine Tooth Extracted — Puggie's Tongue Hangs Out Ever Since He Lost His Right Mandibular Canine Tooth

I’ve noticed many people are looking for dentistry information for their pets. There is one board certified dental society, the American Veterinary Dental College in the United States, and a second Academy of Veterinary Dentistry, which has less stringent membership requirements. Both are sources of official information about dentistry.

There is a practice which concerns Doc Truli greatly, so-called Non-Anesthesia Dentistry. This is an evil wrong perpetrated on pets, sometimes under the roof of an animal hospital. The American Veterinary Dental College has issued a position statement speaking out against this practice. I have included the text at the end of this post, in its entirety, or you can go to the Academy site and read it there.

Here’s how Doc Truli first learned of this “practice:”

Continue reading “Non Anesthesia Dentistry (NAD)”

Cat in Desperate Need of Tooth Removal

In Simon’s case, his left lower canine tooth avulsed so it stuck out of his lower lip at almost a ninety degree angle. Talk about painful!

Old Red Tabby Cat Needs Dental Surgery — Simon, Before Surgery with his Left Lower Canine Tooth Hanging Out

Sometimes cats need emergency tooth extraction. In Simon’s case, his left lower canine tooth avulsed so it stuck out of his lower lip at almost a ninety degree angle. Talk about painful!

To top it off, Simon was 18 years old. Anesthesia carried inherent risk for him, but there was no way he could go on with that tooth like that! Continue reading “Cat in Desperate Need of Tooth Removal”

Cat's Tooth Was Just Hanging Out!

In Simon’s case, his left lower canine tooth avulsed so it stuck out of his lower lip at almost a ninety degree angle. Talk about painful!

Sometimes cats need emergency tooth extraction. In Simon’s case, his left lower canine tooth avulsed so it stuck out of his lower lip at almost a ninety degree angle. Talk about painful!

To top it off, Simon was 18 years old. Anesthesia carried inherent risk for him, but there was no way he could go on with that tooth like that! Continue reading “Cat's Tooth Was Just Hanging Out!”

17-Year-Old Italian Greyhound Needs 17 Teeth Removed!

“I know I should have had his teeth looked at years ago, but I was afraid because he’s so old and he’s on 2 kinds of medicine for epilepsy.”

Antonio was a 17-year-old grey and white epileptic Italian Greyhound. He walked into my office with the right half of his face so swollen, he looked like he tried to swallow a sausage and it got stuck lengthwise in his mouth! His big brown eyes looked miserable. Continue reading “17-Year-Old Italian Greyhound Needs 17 Teeth Removed!”