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Killer On The Roam: Canine and Feline Mouth Wormsby Malcolm RiordanYour dogs and cats - they have oral parasites. Yes, you should be freaking out about this. Yet for all their lives it has been this way. You are just now finding out, that's all. Most pet owners are not sufficiently aware of the silent, slow killers living in their pet's mouths. Even if they have heard of it, most owners do not realize what is happening, the price their best friend is paying, or even the pain that a pet has no option but to live with. That these parasites are actually just bacteria, that this disease process is actually just called gingivitis/periodontal disease, should not revert you back to a comfortable policy of benign neglect. The non-existent "mouth worms" you were just imagining would not even cause as much devastation as that which is really going on with these everyday bacteria. In the warm, moist, and darkened environment of the mouth, at the interface of the teeth and the gums and supporting tissues, bacteria can thrive, especially in the moats and crevices surrounding the teeth. With gums being very rich in blood vessels, any inflammation or infection in these areas can and does lead to bacteria gaining access to the blood/vascular system. The bacteria then travel in the blood stream, looking for a home. They land and settle at distant sites. The large, filtering organs - the lungs, liver, and kidneys – are also rich in blood supply and capillary beds, and so become the typical locations for the drifting bacteria to passively hang up and settle in. This can't be good. Neither is the situation with the valves in the heart: as all the blood in the body circulates thru these valves every few minutes, the bacteria from the mouth can also end up settling in on the heart valves. At these locations, in these vital organs, the bacteria set up and multiply. The immune system mounts its attacks in response and almost always wins, but the battlefield area is damaged, eventually resulting in tiny residual patches of scar tissue. Over years, this scar tissue begins to replace significant amounts of functional lung, liver, and kidney tissue; heart valves become thickened and misshapen. By as early as two years of age, 75% of dogs and cats have already developed silent but detectable organ damage from this process. Furthermore, the smoldering, ongoing, chronic gum and periodontal infection takes other tolls, all of which, when taken together, will deplete overall health. Lifespan - longevity - is reduced by 8-13%. Lifespan can be reduced by one and a half to two years, with decreased overall health and vigor in most of the years before that as well. You should know: A new maxim has been established in both human and veterinary medicine. Oral health cannot be separated from overall health. In the best-case scenario of having no other health problems, then oral health will equal overall health. Some pet owners will become interested in what they can do to overcome or offset this process; to have their best friends not only healthier and more vigorous all the while, but also to live a couple years longer. Some of those interested and concerned pet owners will actually do something about it. Before running down the necessary/ recommended healthy habits for a lifetime here, an important factor must be understood. As for most medical/health issues, individual animals each occupy their own location on the spectrum of susceptibility to gum and periodontal disease. At one end of the spectrum are the lucky ones . . . those with strong genetic constitutions and immune systems. No matter what is done or not done for their oral health, they will sail thru a full length, vigorous life without any oral issues or the related consequences. At the other end of the spectrum, the unlucky ones will have oral health issues and the consequences despite diligent and energetic preventive measures taken by their owners. Typically, most pets will fall in the big middle of the spectrum. This majority can be helped very significantly by the efforts of willing owners and the involvement of their veterinarians. It is important to note that the real goal here is not cosmetic. Still, a bonus side effect of your efforts will be to improve the appearance of and the odor from your dog's or cat's mouth. The basics can be explained fairly simply. They are listed in order of importance and effectiveness: 1) Brush your pet's teeth, if not daily, then every other day with appropriate, pet specific (safe to swallow) tooth paste. If you are only going to do one thing, this would be it. 2) Dental cleaning and polishing at the veterinarian's office as needed. If this is needed at all, it will typically be necessary every 6 to 24 months. It is very valuable and the immediate effect is dramatic. 3) Feeding of a special dry food diet that has been clinically proven to reduce plaque in the specific, most important areas, which is at the tooth/gum border. Currently only Hill's Prescription t/d Diet, canine or feline, can meet this claim. This diet, a back up to 1) and 2) above, is available at veterinary clinics. If, and only if, these three recommendations are being met in earnest, and if further improvements are desired, then there does exist a vast array of chews, chew treats, chew toys, rub on tooth gels, nutritional and drinking water additives - you name it - that may help, but never to the exclusion of the gold-standard foundation of 1) through 3) above. Don't fall for the hyped gimmick products out there. This article has breezed by some important details, especially as to techniques to secure your dog or cat's cooperation in accomplishing effective and frequent brushing. Between instructions available online, or having your veterinarian's technicians demonstrate the techniques, getting started is the first step. Ultimately, every dog should allow effective brushings; many learn to look forward to it. Some will actually solicit it. Cats, however, with their feline sense of innate royalty and of just who is in charge, and when, can sometimes thwart even a patient campaign to establish an effective brushing program. Despite the chance of partial or complete failure, you should muster you best cat-whispering skills and give it a try. In the end, the solution to this huge issue in your pet's overall health and longevity is simple enough: Get a toothbrush and some pet toothpaste, and get with your veterinarian.
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