Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 130, Number 3, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 18 January 2007 — Page 12

Page B4

Advance News • Thursday, January 18, 2007

Veterinarians urge proper dental hygeine for pets

Staff Report Would you let years go by between visits to the dentist? Probably not! Your pet's dental health is just as important to his or tier overall health as your dental health is to your general health. To help veterinarians and their teams provide excellent dental care throughout their pets' lives, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has developed the AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Major highlights of these guidelines are covered in this article. Why Dental Care? Dental care of dogs and cats is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health care. In fact, a recent AAHA study showed that approximately two-thirds of pet owners do not provide the dental care that is recommended as essential by veterinarians. What's more, the American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of oral disease by age three. Dental disease doesn't affect just the mouth. It can lead to more serious health problems including heart, lung and kidney disease, which makes it all the more important that you provide your pets with proper

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dental care from the start. AAHA's Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats were designed to provide veterinarians and their teams with a working framework for small animal dentistry practice, including dental examinations and cleaning and surgical procedures. Your pet's dental health isn't just in the hands of your veterinarian though. Pet owner education regarding treatment options for optimum dental health and the importance of home care are emphasized throughout the guidelines. Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth that takes hold in progressive stages. It starts out as a bacterial film called plaque. The bacteria attach to the teeth. When the bacteria die they can be calcified by calcium in saliva. This forms a hard, rough substance called tartar or calculus which allows more plaque to accumulate. Initially, plaque is soft and brushing or chewing hard food and toys can dislodge it. If left to spread, plaque can lead to gingivitis, an inflammation of the gums, causing them to become red and swollen and to bleed easily. In the final stages of periodontal disease, the tissues surrounding the tooth are destroyed, the bony socket

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holding the tooth in erodes and the tooth becomes loose. This is a very painful process for your four-legged friend, but these problems can be averted before they even start. There are two critical components of your pet's veterinary dental care: oral examinations and dental cleanings. Veterinary dental care begins at the puppy and kitten life stage. AAHA recommends that veterinarians evaluate puppies and kittens for problems related to the deciduous (baby) teeth, missing or extra teeth, swellings and oral development. As your pet ages, your veterinarian will look for developmental anomalies, the accumulation of plaque and tartar, periodontal disease and oral tumors. Veterinarians can perform a basic oral examination on patients that are awake. However, a short-lasting anesthetic is required in order to provide a complete and thorough examination as well as dental cleanings. The AAHA Dental Care Guidelines recommended regular oral examinations and dental cleanings, under general anesthesia, for all adult dogs and cats. AAHA recommends these procedures at least annually starting at one year of age for cats and small-breed dogs, and at two years of age for large-breed dogs.

The guidelines further recommend the following: •Pre-anesthetic exam: Whenever anesthesia is needed, special considerations are taken to help ensure the safety of your pet. Your veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet to make sure she's healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. Depending on your pet's age and general physical condition, your veterinarian may also run blood, urine, electrocardiograph, and x-ray tests to check for any dangerous heart, kidney, or other conditions. Though there is some risk associated with any medical procedure, modem anesthesia is usually safe, even for older pets. •Anesthesia monitoring: During Anesthesia, the monitoring and recording of your pet's vital signs (such as body temperature, heart rate, and respiration, as well as other important factors) is important. This helps ensure the safety of your pet while undergoing anesthesia. •Dental Radiographs: Radiographs (x-rays) of the teeth are needed periodically in order to completely evaluate your pet's oral health. X-rays aid the veterinarian greatly in detecting abnormalities that cannot be detected under examination alone. In some cases, x-rays can confirm the need for extraction of teeth that are loose or badly infected.

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ADVANCE NEWS PHOTOS/MANDY MCFARLAND The Nappanee Veterinary staff and the Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County want to extend a warm thank you to the community for their overwhelming response in our “Toys for Pets” drive. The basket raffle raised SSO and our box was filled three times over.

•Scaling & Polishing: Veterinarians are advised to use similar instruments as human dentists to remove plaque and calculus from your pet’s teeth. To smooth out any scratches in the tooth enamel, polishing with a special paste is also recommended. •Fluoride/sealants: The application of an anti-plaque substance, such as fluoride treatment and/or a barrier sealant is also advised. This can help strengthen and desensitize teeth as well as decrease future plaque. •Home Dental Care: Your pet's dental care doesn't rest with your veterinarian alone. As a pet owner, you play a pivotal role in helping ensure your pet's dental health through regular teeth brushing. Remember, pets can live longer, healthier lives if oral health care is managed and maintained. In fact, proper dental care may add as much as five years to your pet's life! Talk to your veterinarian about developing a dental care plan for your furry friend. Information can be found on wunv.healthypet.com. Compiled by the American Animal Hospital Association Courtesy of the Nappanee Veterinary Hospital

Left: (left to right) Linda Davis, Tracy Stutzman and Jane Heckaman load Toys for Pets donations into bags so that the gifts can be transported to the Kosciusko County Humane Society shelter and distributed to the dogs and cats. Center: Ronda Lewis, shelter coordinator for the Kosciusko County Humane Society, accepts the ‘Toys for Ffots” donations from Dr. Mattem of the Nappanee Veterinary Hospital. The beagle mix » puppy in her arms has been adopted and has gone to live with his new family. Right: Cat basket winner Cheryl White (left) and dog basket winner Wilda Boothe (right), accept their prizes from Dr. Mattem of the Nappanee Veterinary Hospital (center). Boothe’s dachshund, Heidi, checks out the toys i n the dog basket. The Nappanee Veterinary Hospital reminds everyone that donations are always welcome and can be dropped off at the veterinary hospital at any time. LEGALS 119 Nappanee Legals NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATION In the Elkhart Circuit Court Cause No. 20C01-0611-ES-72 Notice is hereby given that on the 29th day of December, 2006, Tom C. Boeder was appointed Personal Representative of the Estate of Betty Jean Roeder, who died on November 14, 2006. All persons who have claims against this estate, whether or not now due, must file a claim in the Office of the Clerk of this Court within three (3) months after the first publication of this notice or within nine (9) months after the decedents death, whichever is earlier, or the claims wilt be forever barred Dated at Goshen, Itxfiana this 29th day of December, 2006. /s/ Stephanie Burgess Clerk, Elkhart Circuit Court Loren R. Stoat *363-20 KINDIG & SLOAT, P.C. Attorney for the Estate P.O. Box 31 102 Heritage Parkway Nappanee, Indiana 46550-0031 (574) 773-7996 Joroy 11. IS, 2007 NANII3I