Cleo

I went to see Dr Christine Hawke after she was highly recommended to me by our local vet who had been treating my dog Cleo with antibiotics for mouth problems.

Cleo was also being treated for a heart condition so the thought of an operation and anesthetic scared me greatly for this sweet old girl.

I went along to see Christine one Thursday morning, Christine could not have been more kind or thorough in her consultation.

Cleo will be 18 in December, she had suffered the problems in her mouth for too long now, I agreed that the operation was necessary so I left her with Christine to be operated on the same afternoon.

When I picked her up the next day she was happy to see me but I had a feeling it was going to take a couple of days to get her over the long operation and to get used to having no teeth!

It has been one week since the operation and I am thrilled to say that Cleo is looking wonderful, she is so much happier and brighter.

She has no problems at all eating, in fact I think she is enjoying food much more now!

Her mouth was slowly poisoning her system….now there is no more bad breath or sad eyes in fact I would even say there is a spring in her step that I haven’t seen for years.

I can highly recommend Dr Christine Hawke, she is an honest, down to earth and extremely clever lady whom I’m glad was recommended to my family.

Lucius

Our Bull Terrier, Lucius was referred to see Christine Hawke for assessment and management of a tooth root abscess.

During the initial consultation, Christine could not possibly have been more helpful and forthcoming. She spent the better part of an hour explaining every possible outcome as well as answering all of my questions. At all times, she made me feel completely at ease and I was elated to have her take Lucius on as her patient.

Lucius underwent surgery the following week and has recovered beautifully.

At every stage of my contact and dealings with Christine Hawke, she was professional, friendly and exceptionally thorough in all aspects of her
service. Her genuine affection and concern for our pet was unmistakable.

I would absolutely recommend her service to anyone and would be happy to give verbal reference at any time..

Gemma Smith

Eastlakes, NSW

A broken dog tooth from chewing bones - this is a slab fracture of the upper carnassial

One of the most common problems we see are broken dog teeth -  specifically ‘slab fractures’ of the upper carnassials. These are the big teeth on the side of the mouth that dogs chew with in a scissor-like action. When they fracture the whole side of the tooth snaps off, resulting in pain and infection that, if the fracture is deep enough, this can only be resolved by root canal treatment or extraction – both pretty big procedures!

The most common cause of this injury? Chewing objects that are simply too hard to be considered safe. The most common object – bones!  Recently the United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) released a consumer update confirming what veterinary dentists have known for a long time – that chewing bones is not a safe option for our pet pooches (click here to view the release).

Culture & Myths About Bones

Here in Australia, ‘giving the dog a bone’ is firmly ingrained in our culture. Dogs love to chew them, it gives them great pleasure, and seems at least on the surface to help keep their teeth clean. Even my own children are adamant that ‘dogs eat bones’, thanks to various nursery rhymes and Wiggles songs. It’s hard to argue with a toddler when it comes to Wags the Dog!

Let’s start by dispelling some of the myths about bones:

Many people have fed bones to their dogs for years with no apparent signs of damage.

While some dogs chew bones for years without problems, we see many others that aren’t so lucky. Some dogs play rougher than others, and some chew harder than others. If your dog chews like it is trying to kill a wild beast, watch for the damage. And don’t forget, we see many dogs with fractured teeth that have been undetected for years – this doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting, just that they just don’t want to let us know about it!

Dogs in the wild chew bones, don’t they? Surely something so natural is safe?

More often than not wild dogs chew the meat off the bone and leave the bones behind. And they get broken teeth and periodontal disease too! And natural isn’t always best – there are many safer dental chew products available that are softer yet effective.

How do I tell if my dog has a broken tooth?

Well, remember that dogs really aren’t good at telling us they are in pain – in fact they will try to not show any ‘weaknesses’ to their pack (that’s us!) until it becomes too sore to hide it any longer. Many of us have had an infected tooth and know how painful it is – well it hurts your dog just as much, even if they don’t whinge about it! This means they will suffer in silence for years if we don’t keep an eye out for problems. Things you might notice include:

• You might see that a tooth looks a different shape or colour to the one on the other side.
• You might notice that a tooth on one side has more tartar buildup compared with the other side – this often indicates a damaged tooth surface or that the dog is not chewing properly on one side due to pain.
• You might see swelling around the tooth or a lump under the eye (in this case a tooth root abscess is highly likely).

Or you might not see anything at all! If you are unsure, get your vet to do a dental check.

What if you really want to give bones to your dog?

Well, that’s ultimately up to you, and how you weigh up the risks and benefits. IF you wish to feed bones, you can decrease the risk of problems to dog teeth by only using raw bones (less likely to splinter), match the size of the bone to the size of the dog (less likely to get caught or cause an obstruction), leave the meat on (so there is something to chew), supervise your dog, and take the bone away once the meat is gone.  Better still, look into safer chewing alternatives, such as specially formulated dental diets, dental chews and toys. Your dog will thank you for it.

Related Articles

What should I do if I see a broken tooth?
Why consider trying to save teeth when we can extract them?
Do dog chews really work?

There is a lot of debate about whether dog chews really are effective at controlling bad breath and gum disease in our pooches.

Questions such as “Which dog chews are effective?” and “How often should my dog be given a dog chew?” come up regularly in veterinary consultations.

The goal of a dog chew is to both provide a mechanical way to clean your dog’s teeth as well as provide some environmental enrichment or fun!

The mouth is loaded with bacteria because it is a warm, moist & open environment. Bacteria contribute to dental disease and what is known as periodontal disease (gum disease), the most common problem plaguing our pets’ mouths. Without regular attention and awareness of ways in which to prevent gum disease, your pet could develop a painful condition where the dog’s teeth become loose and may need to be pulled out (extracted).

One of the options to help your dog maintain a healthy, pain-free mouth is to provide him or her with lots of dog chews.

What are the causes of periodontal disease?

Plaque is a colourless film that contains millions of bacteria and if left untreated can cause infections in the gum and destruction of the tissues that hold the teeth in place. This is known as periodontal disease.

How do dog chews work?

Preventative oral care, including the provision of dog chews, can help maintain a healthy mouth throughout your pet’s life.

When a dog chews or gnaws for a period of time, the salivary glands are stimulated and more saliva is produced and released into the mouth. What you may not be aware of is that saliva has some amazing antibacterial properties, which in combination with the scrubbing effect from the dog chew, can help control the buildup of plaque, and therefore the development of periodontal disease.

How often should my dog be given a dog chew?

Ideally your dog should be given something to chew on for at least 30 mins every day, or every second day at a minimum. This helps prevent large amounts of plaque from accumulating and hardening into tartar.

Which dog chews are effective?

With all the dog chews and treats on the market that claim to have dental benefits, it can be hard to determine which ones actually work. Some products have been approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC), an independent body set up by veterinary dentists to critically and scientifically analyse these claims, and can be used as a guide when selecting a chew for your dog. Your vet can also give advice on which products are effective for your dog.

It is important to select a chew that is appropriate for the size of your dog. Dog chews become ineffective if they are eaten too quickly and without any effort.  Products such as the Greenies dental chews come in five different sizes catered to the size of your dog. These chews are very popular amongst pooches and one chew given daily is an effective means to reduce tartar build up. They are not suitable for dogs under 6 months of age. They also have the VOHC’s seal of approval (www.vohc.org).

Do some dog foods encourage more chewing than others?

Another effective means of encouraging your dog to chew more is to incorporate dog chews into their regular diet.

The Hills Science Diet T/D Diet range also has the Veterinary Oral Health Council’s seal of approval. This complete and balanced diet consists of a much larger and tougher kibble that ensures that your dog chews through each kibble, so that the teeth are cleaned from the tip to the gum. These diets are available through your local vet.

What about raw bones?

There is a lot of controversy in the media about whether raw bones are a good idea on a regular basis for dogs. While raw bones can be very effective, in some cases they can cause significant problems such as broken teeth. So due to the risks, we cannot completely endorse bone chewing as part of routine dental care.

NEVER FEED COOKED BONES.

What about tooth brushing?

Strange as it may sound, brushing your dog’s teeth is one of the best things you can do to maintain their health. As with humans, toothbrushing is the gold standard for dental care in dogs. Ideally this should be done daily but even every second day can dramatically reduce the build up of plaque. Leaving it for longer in between dog teeth brush sessions is less effective as this gives enough time for the plaque to harden into tartar, which is too hard to be removed by brushing alone.

Look at our top 10 tips for toothbrushing and for further information sign up for our e-news to ensure you have the most up-to-date information on dog dental health care.

We have just made our website compatible with most touch screen phones such as the iPhone and Blackberry. When viewed from a compatible phone the website will be optimised and made extremely lightweight to deal specifically with mobile devices – but still with all the trimmings of the regular site. Try it out and let me know what you think!

Chris

Christine has been running nurse workshops on behalf of Crampton Consulting in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. The workshops have been very well received, with an emphasis on the following:

• Practical techniques
• Equipment use and maintenance
• Welfare in veterinary dentistry
• Disease recognition
• Pre- and post-procedure care

Click here for a link to the Crampton site for this and future workshops. Contact us for further information and availabilities.

Sydney Pet Dentistry’s new interactive website has just been launched. Some of the new features include:

• A much improved ability for clients and industry professionals to ‘talk’ and comment within the website and share content with your friends and associates. We would love an online dental community.
• Innovative iPhone technology so you can view the pages and posts on the go.
• Rebuilt  FREE members area for veterinarians, vet nurses and the general public where we discuss techniques, provide training materials, newsletters and more

Chris and Gretta have been working hard on the site and would love some feedback, so feel free to make some suggestions in the comments box below.

You can also find us on the mypets.net.au website. Pets – an online guide to pets, with pet information, a breeder and business directory a pet forum and more.

We would love to hear from you! Email about anything related to pet dentistry to:

christine@sydneypetdentistry.com.au

Your email will be delivered privately to us and will be answered privately. Otherwise feell free to comment below. Comments of a general nature may be posted as comments for others to benefit from.

You can also gain FREE access to newsletters, updates and helpful emails via our EMAIL SUBSCRIPTION.

Thanks for contacting us.

As pets grow old, one of the things that is important to maintain is quality of life. If the teeth are severely infected or there is severe gingivitis and gum disease going on in the mouth, the quality of life is poor as the animal experiences discomfort and pain constantly. Older pets are more prone to infection in their mouths if teeth are left untreated, due to their weakened immune systems so it is often necessary to have more regular dental treatment such as scaling and polishing under anaesthesia in order to maintain their overall health.

Problems such as tooth root abscesses (a painful bone infection in the mouth) are often only discovered once your pet is asleep and the mouth thoroughly examined or x-rayed, with the only symptom of disease being the dog’s bad breath.

While there is some increased risk under an anaesthetic when you pet is older, the risk can be managed by performing a thorough physical examination, a blood test and fluid therapy prior to the procedure, as well as careful monitoring of heart rate, oxygen level and blood pressure while the animal is asleep.

It is considered part of responsible pet ownership to maintain the health and welfare of your pet as he or she grows old and this includes treating any dental disease present.

Please contact your local vet or Sydney Pet Dentistry if you have any concerns. Make some comments below.

Fergus is a young German Shepherd who fractured a lower canine tooth (fang tooth) whilst playing. His owner noticed the broken tooth was bleeding and took him straight to the local vet. The fracture had taken the top of the tooth away and exposed the sensitive pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), resulting in acute pain. Left untreated, an infection invariably develops, resulting in tooth death and chronic infection of the jaw bone.

The lower canines are very important teeth for grasping objects and provide a lot of the lower jaw’s strength due to the sheer size of their roots. Although extraction is an option, it is a difficult and often lengthy surgical procedure. Fergus’ owner was interested saving the tooth if possible, especially as he has many years ahead of him.

Dr Christine Hawke examined Fergus and, following discussion with his owner, the decision was made to perform a vital pulpotomy under general anaesthesia. This technique involves removing any inflamed and contaminated pulp tissue, placing a medication inside the tooth, and sealing it with a white filling (just like those used in people!). It can only be used in very recent fractures, but is less invasive and painful than extraction and gives the tooth its only chance of survival.

Fergus awoke smoothly from his operation and returned home that evening. He will return for follow up x-rays in six months to see how the tooth is recovering.