Meet Lady! Lady is a 10 year old miniature pinscher mix who you may remember as a previous Pet of the Month. Last time the spotlight was on Lady, she was working with Dr. Forbes on behavior modification and made a large amount of progress becoming less fearful at the clinic. This time, we wanted to highlight Lady’s recent dental.
Lady will not eat dental treats and brushing is not feasible due to her behavior so she has a dental cleaning with Dr. Forbes twice a year. Lady’s owner said that she bounces back from anesthesia after about a day and the pain medications help keep her comfortable.
During her most recent dental, Lady had dental radiographs taken and an oral exam. Upon reviewing her dental radiographs, Dr. Forbes located a CORL within one of those teeth a.k.a. a Canine Ondontoclastic Resorptive Lesion. These lesions were not seen during the oral exam because they developed within the teeth under the gumline. The cause of these lesions is unknown, but they are progressive so often the tooth needs to be removed for treatment. If the lesion breaks through to the gum line, it is very painful for the pet. Dr. Forbes performed surgery to remove the affected canine tooth.
Investing in a dental can greatly improve your pet’s overall health. Preventing or treating dental disease can alleviate pain and illness. Sometimes owners feel like losing teeth will negatively impact the quality of their pet’s life. Dogs have 42 teeth and cats have 30 teeth. They often do not notice when some are missing. Lady’s owner said that the dentals have not affected her daily life or eating abilities. She feels that treating Lady’s dental disease can prevent hardships further on in life and improve her overall health and comfort.
All of the doctors here at Rock Bridge Animal Hospital are invested in your pet’s oral health because they understand the impact it can play in their overall quality of life. Removing a painful tooth can make a pet feel more active and happy. Regular cleanings can help prevent irreversible disease to the gum line. Lady’s owner is grateful to Dr. Forbes and the team at Rock Bridge Animal Hospital for their dedication to her health and well being.
- Robin