PASSIONATE BREEDERS
ARE ALWAYS LEARNING.

Dog Dental Care for Show Dogs

Archive document IAMS COMPANY

Iams is since 1999 a registered trademark of The Procter & Gamble Company. This is an archive document used historically by the Iams Pet Food company or for Iams Pet Food products. Any and all mentions included herein needs to be replaced in context of the time and geography of its initial use as circumstances and products may have changed since then. Products and relative data are for US only. No assertion or further use of these documents can be made without P&G's authorization.

DENTAL CARE FOR THE SHOW DOG

Maurice H. Docton, DVM
Research & Development Division
The Iams Company, Lewisburg, Ohio, USA
Breeder's Symposium 2002

INTRODUCTION

There has been a virtual explosion of interest in companion animal dentistry in the last 25 years, but knowledge of dental disease and treatment is constantly evolving. The creation of a board specialty designation for veterinary dentistry did not occur until 1988, and even now there are only 55 diplomates. This is in stark contrast to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, that currently lists over 800 diplomates.¹ Although there are many parallels between human and animal dentistry, enough differences exist to challenge veterinarians and pet owners alike for many years to come.

DENTAL ISSUES FOR DOGS

The types of dental problems that are common in the dog are different than those seen in people. Because of differences in the shape of the canine's teeth, dogs are not nearly as susceptible to the formation of cavities as humans are. Damage to the teeth through demineralization is not common because the dog's saliva is less acidic than human saliva.²

The three most common oral health problems seen in dogs are as follows:

1. bad breath,
2. inflammation of the gums, and
3. periodontal disease.²

To understand the true nature of dental/oral health, one must understand the terms plaque, tartar, and periodontal disease.

PLAQUE

Plaque is a soft, thin film of food by-products, saliva, and bacteria deposited on the teeth. It is not visible to the naked eye. Plaque is also referred to as biofilm.³

TARTAR

Tartar is hard, yellow-brown material that forms as a result of the accumulation of plaque and its eventual hardening through calcification. Tartar is also called calculus.³

PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Periodontal disease refers to a group of oral disorders. These include combinations of inflammation of the gums, damage to the attachment ligaments of the teeth, loss of bone surrounding the teeth, and tooth loosening.³ Periodontal disease is one of the most common health problems veterinarians see in dogs (Figure 1); approximately 85% of adult dogs are affected.⁴

SHOW DOG ORAL HEALTH

The health and well-being of a dog's teeth become an issue almost from birth. Problems with eruption, malocclusion, and malalignment can result in significant mastication problems that directly influence overall nutrition and health. These problems can result in elimination of the dog from suitability and eligibility as a conformation show animal as outlined in individual American Kennel Club (AKC) breed standards.

The AKC guidelines in Section 8 of chapter 11 of Rules Applying to Dog Shows state that "Procedures that would in and of themselves be considered a change in appearance by artificial means and make a dog ineligible for shows include, but are not limited to..
6. Restorative dental procedures, the use of bands or braces on teeth, or any alteration of the dental arcade."⁵

In other words, the AKC views procedures such as application of caps to teeth, the use of orthodontic devices (braces), or procedures that restore a damaged tooth to its original appearance as a basis for disqualification from showing. Since the adult dog only gets one set of teeth, the maintenance of good oral health becomes a critical issue for a dog whose appearance is under constant scrutiny by judges looking for faults.

Although malocclusion and malalignment can be genetically influenced, there is some evidence that playing rough games with puppies, such as "tug-of-war" using ropes and towels, can cause tooth damage. In addition, fever and other forms of trauma or injury can damage a puppy's teeth enough to alter adult tooth alignment. Chewing on inappropriate objects that can result in fracture of deciduous (baby) teeth can also influence the final alignment of the adult teeth. Ultimately, if a permanent adult tooth is fractured, this can result in the loss of the tooth and an unsightly gap that is obvious even to the distracted judge. A fractured tooth with exposed pulp, left untreated by extraction or root canal, is a constant source of discomfort for the animal. The dog will experience sensitivity to hot and cold, chewing, and even the movement of air through the area during mouth breathing.

Another critical element in oral health is maintaining a healthy environment within the mouth itself. Even in puppyhood, one of the first steps to good oral health is brushing the dog's teeth. The reason brushing should start during the puppy phase is more behavioral than medical - "as the twig is bent, so grows the tree". In other words, it is much easier to get puppies used to brushing if you start early in their life (Figure 2). A wide variety of toothbrush types and toothpaste flavors are available through veterinarians and pet stores.

Although dental cleaning by veterinarians can salvage the appearance issues that accompany the failure to do home brushing, it is important to remember that this procedure involves general anesthesia and can be quite costly. Depending on the preference of the veterinarian, prophylaxis may include hand and ultrasonic scaling to remove existing plaque and tartar, some form of subgingival cleaning, and polishing of the tooth surfaces with a mildly abrasive pumice. The dental prophylaxis procedure removes plaque and calculus that is present above and below the gum line and polishing removes micropitting on the tooth enamel, which can serve as a surface for plaque deposit. As a general rule, veterinary dental cleaning is recommended every 12 to 18 months for dogs with no evidence of periodontal disease. Those animals with gum disease or other signs of periodontal problems would benefit from cleaning as frequently as every 6 or 12 months.⁶

Left unchecked, the accumulation of bacteria and food by-products that eventually harden into the visible yellowbrown tartar on the teeth, can lead to the loosening of the teeth themselves, bone loss in the jaws, and damage to the internal organs of the dog's body, such as the kidneys and heart.⁷

NUTRITIONALLY MANAGING ORAL HEALTH

What can we do as dog owners to ensure that the teeth stay where they should be and for as long as possible? The three "cornerstones" of dental hygiene/oral health maintenance are daily brushing, dental cleaning by veterinary professionals, and diet. Since compliance rates for actually brushing the dog's teeth are, unfortunately, very low⁸ and the fear of anesthesia administration looms large with pet owners, diet can be an important element in oral health care for dogs.

Since the early 1900's it has been known that dry dog foods impede the accumulation of tartar more than wet or canned foods. More recently, food fiber technology has been incorporated to improve the "scrubbing" action of the food kibble as the tooth penetrates the individual pieces. This scrubbing action has been accomplished in the past by orienting the fiber to improve cleaning action or increase the abrasive properties of the kibble. The Iams Company has recently introduced a proprietary manufacturing process that allows a source of phosphorus to be added to the entire adult lines of Eukanuba™ dog and cat foods.

The phosphorus source is applied to the surface of the food in the form of micro-cleansing crystals that scrub the surface of the tooth as the dog eats. These crystals not only help scrub the teeth as the animals eat, but also helps slow the formation of tartar after the physical act of chewing is completed. As the kibble is broken during chewing, the crystals become embedded in the accumulated bacteria and food by-products on the tooth surface (plaque). This process interrupts the formation of tartar.

Testing has shown up to 55% reduction in tartar formation in dogs fed a diet with the Eukanuba Dental Defense System® micro-cleansing crystals compared to the same diet without the Dental Defense System. Since phosphorus is a nutrient the dog needs as a basic mineral for maintenance of vital body systems, nothing has to be compromised in the nutritional benefits of feeding these diets -- all adult lifestages and lifestyles are accommodated. Since puppies grow a whole new set of teeth during their first year of life, Eukanuba™ puppy foods do not include the Dental Defense System.

SUMMARY

A bright, clean dental arcade is an important part of success in the winning show dog's appearance. Sound, healthy teeth directly reflect the care that the dog is receiving. Through prudent use of home dental care, professional veterinary care, and the proper diet, the enthusiast can proactively influence the health and appearance of the teeth and gums.

Eukanuba and Eukanuba Dental Defense System are registered trademarks of The Iams Company.

REFERENCES

1. American Veterinary Medical Association Directory; 2001
2. Dental health and diet. In: Case LP, Carey DP, Hirakawa DA, Daristotle L, eds. Canine and Feline Nutrition: A Resource for Companion Animal Professionals, 2nd ed. St. Louis: Mosby, 2000; 477-488.
3. DorlandOs Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 28th ed. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders, 1994.
4. Auvil JD. Managing dental health in companion animals: oral health care options, in Proceedings. Current Perspectives in Canine and Feline Dental Health Management, 2002 North American Vet Conference; 13-18.
5. American Kennel Club website; available at www.akc.org
6. Aller S. Dental home care and preventative strategies. Sem Vet Surg Small Anim 1993; 8:204-212.
7. DeBowes LJ, Mosier D, Logan E, Harvey CE, Lowry S, Richardson DC. Association of periodontal disease and histologic lesions in multiple organs from 45 dogs. J Vet Dent 1996; 13:57-60.
8. Gengler W. Veterinary clinical dentistry, in Proceedings. Current Perspectives in Canine and Feline Dental Health Management, 2002 North American Vet Conference; 7-12.