February 2003
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This month we will discuss pet dental health and the effect it can have on your pet's overall health.

We also introduce you to the pet family of Beth Watercutter, one of our technicians.

Did you know that poor oral health could lead to heart disease? Or kidney disease?
It's true! Plaque is full of bacteria, and if it is allowed to remain on the teeth, the bacteria get into your pet's bloodstream and damage cells in their heart, kidneys, liver and/or lungs. This causes serious health concerns as your pet ages. Maintaining good oral health in your pets will help them to live a long and healthy life. This month we will discuss the stages of periodontal disease and what you can do to help control this serious problem.

Plaque is a soft film that forms on your teeth all the time (even now as you read this newsletter). It is a combination of saliva, food particles, and naturally occurring bacteria. If it is not removed, it hardens into tartar (or calculus). As we brush our teeth, we remove most of the accumulation of plaque. We also visit our dentist twice a year to have the dental hygienist remove the tartar. If the tartar is allowed to remain on the teeth, it begins to irritate the gingiva (or gum). This condition is called gingivitis. There are 3 stages of gingivitis:

The good news is that we can keep this process from occurring. And by doing so we can reduce the chances of oral disease causing damage to our pet's heart, lungs, kidneys, and liver. The first step is good home care. Many pets are willing to learn how to have their teeth brushed every day. The toothpastes made for dogs and cats are made in several flavors. Most of them contain an enzyme that helps to dissolve the plaque. Please see our February 2002 newsletter for guidance in teaching your pet to allow tooth brushing. Along with home care, we recommend annual oral exams (in conjunction with your pet's annual physical examination). The doctor can determine when the teeth need to be cleaned professionally and will recommend a cleaning if tartar is beginning to accumulate on the surfaces of the teeth. We want to get rid of the tartar before the bacteria begin to do their damage.

Procedures vary from clinic to clinic in regards to pre-anesthetic, anesthetic, and prophylactic procedure protocols. At East Hilliard Veterinary services we strive to offer the very best care. We offer the safest anesthetics, up to date monitoring equipment, and the most progressive veterinary dental care to ensure the best health and comfort for your pet. The anesthetic protocol and the degree of training of the staff involved with your pet's prophylactic treatment are the best available. When your pet comes to us for cleaning (prophylactic treatment), the doctors will do a physical exam and we will run blood tests to determine how well your pet's internal organs are functioning. Sometimes we need to delay an anesthetic procedure and work with you to improve your pet's health status before a cleaning is performed. If exam and test results show your pet to be healthy, a small area on your pet's front leg is shaved, an intravenous catheter is placed, and intravenous fluids are started. Intravenous fluids are electrolyte solutions that maintain hydration, support organ function, and help maintain blood pressure. They are administered during the entire dental procedure via a fluid pump that regulates the flow of the fluids based on the patient's weight and degree of health. Then, a short acting anesthetic induction agent is administered via the intravenous catheter. As the patient becomes sleepy, a breathing tube is placed in the trachea and the patient is placed on a gas anesthesia and oxygen mixture. Monitors are hooked up to the patient that keep track of your pet's heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, and blood oxygen saturation levels, and an ECG strip is printed. Any changes from normal will be detected immediately and adjustments will be made as needed. These monitors help us maintain an even level of anesthesia. Your pet is also monitored by a technician who will keep a written record of your pet's heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation level, and level of anesthesia.

Once the patient is sleeping and stable, we will begin the cleaning procedure. There are several distinct steps in a complete prophylactic treatment. Not all clinics perform such thorough and complete therapy. A complete oral exam is performed and any abnormalities (such as fractures, gingival recession, and resorptive lesions) are noted.

Tartar is removed from the crowns of the teeth through the use of an ultrasonic dental cleaner. The subgingival (below the gumline) surfaces of the teeth are cleaned using specially designed curettes. If necessary, root planing is also performed.

The teeth and gums are probed for periodontal pockets (areas where the bacteria have loosened the attachments around the teeth).

The teeth are then polished. This smoothing of the enamel helps to slow the return of tartar.

A chlorhexidine solution is used to flush out any debris that may be remaining subgingivally. A fluoride foam is applied to the surfaces of the teeth to help strengthen the enamel.

Finally, any abnormalities identified during the cleaning process are examined by dental x-rays using our dental x-ray unit (one of only a handful in use in veterinary clinics in the Columbus area). The doctor can then attend to any problems found. See our newsletter from February 2002 to see some of the oral conditions we might find. Once the dental procedure is complete, your pet is recovered and returned to his/her kennel with soft padded blankets. Once fully awake and able to walk, your pet will be allowed to go home.

We are proud to say that the doctors and staff of East Hilliard Veterinary Services are very well educated in veterinary dentistry. That is another difference you will find here. Dr. Tom Klein is continuing his training and working toward his board certification in veterinary dentistry. All of our technicians and doctors have passed the American Society of Veterinary Dental Technicians exam. We also receive further training by attending annual national veterinary dental meetings and other meetings such as the Midwest Veterinary Conference held in Columbus every year in February.

Meet the Watercutter family
Hi! My name is Beth Watercutter. I have been a Registered Veterinary Technician since 1991. My husband Bill and I have two sons, Jacob who is six, and Clayton who is 22 months. The rest of our family consists of two dogs and one cat. Here are their stories.

We adopted Saydee, a nine-year-old Sheltie mix, from the Franklin County Animal Shelter when she was only five months old. Although my husband had never had pets and wasn't much of an animal lover, Saydee won his heart in a hurry. She has been a wonderful pet. She loves to play fetch and is a great Frisbee catcher. She is very devoted to all of us but is especially fond of Jacob. Each night when Jacob goes to bed, Saydee stays with him until he falls asleep. Then she whimpers softly to ask if it is OK if she comes back downstairs with Bill and me. She is now beginning to be a "mother hen" to Clayton as well.

Skittles, a five-year-old domestic shorthair cat, came into our family as a kitten when she had been injured and abandoned at the clinic where I was working at the time. Her injuries required having three toes on her right rear foot amputated, but she healed quickly and is now the boss of the household. She lets the dogs know that she is "top dog", but she will lower herself to play with them on a daily basis.

Mandy, a four-year-old Golden Retriever, also joined the family after being given up by her previous owner. Her confidence level was very low, and she was seriously lacking in her social skills. With the help of Kathy Baldy (another employee here), and Kathy's skills in clicker training, Mandy has become a totally different dog. We also attended obedience classes at Dog Talk (see following article), and she graduated top in her class. We are hoping to attend agility classes with her in the spring. I know she can handle the running and jumping but I'm not so sure she will appreciate the tunnel. We will see. Well, that is our family. Maybe someday there will be another addition; another animal that is!

Dog Talk
Dog Talk is a training facility located in NW Columbus near I-270 and Sawmill Rd. They use positive, motivational training methods to help you communicate effectively with your dog. They'll train you how to teach your dog to respond reliably, and how to change unwanted behaviors into behaviors you will be proud of. They offer Puppy classes and Beginner, Level 2, and Advanced classes. They also offer Semi-Private classes for fearful or reactive dogs who need a less distracting learning environment.

They are endorsed by the National Association of Dog Obedience Instructors. You can contact them at 792-6331.

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