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Reluctance to Eat in Aging Dogs

 

As a dog or cat ages, the total need for energy and protein seems to be less. Unfortunately, they also loose some of their ability to digest food so in the end, these two factors balance themselves out. However, due to things like early kidney disease and infection around the teeth, the delicate balance can easily be overturned. To investigate the health of the kidneys, I would suggest a visit to your veterinarian for a full physical exam and a blood test to screen for any early problems. Teeth on the other hand, are readily seen and smelled! Most owners can, with some persistence, do a better examination of their pet/s teeth at home than can be done at a veterinarians office unless an anesthetic is administered.

 

The stages of dental disease are as follows: Mild gum disease (gingivitis), gum disease with calculus, and infection of the gum with secondary damage to the bone that supports the tooth. In addition broken teeth, cavities or retained baby teeth may be present and these require treatment as soon as practical.

 

Gingivitis
Many animals have a mild infection of the gum at the attachment to the tooth. The reasons for this are not completely understood but diet and chewing habits are big factors. I saw one statistic that showed 85 percent of all animals over two years of age have significant gum infection. This disease is very easy to treat by brushing the teeth. Now this may not be as easy as it sounds as some pets do not like to have their teeth touched, they would rather choose whom they will touch with their teeth!. However, with a gradual gentle start and lots of treats, a good habit can be formed. If brushing is an absolute impossibility, there are other things like chew bones, treats, and mouthwashes that can help, but nothing even comes close the lowly toothbrush.

 

Why worry about it?
This is a very common question I am asked. One reason is that once the infection gets established, it can very quickly spread to other teeth and more importantly, these nasty bacteria can more easily enter the blood stream and cause problems in the heart, lungs, liver and kidney. Another reason is that gingivitis always progresses, in some animals more quickly than in others.

 

Calculus
Once the gums are infected with a persistent bacteria, these organisms alter many factors and lead to mineralization of the plaque that so readily forms on teeth. This "coral reef-like" deposit on the teeth accelerates the whole infection problem and allows for it to extend along the tooth to its root. Once your pet has this problem, a professional cleaning is required as the calculus you see is only the tip of the iceberg, the biggest problem lies under the gum line. This requires and uncomfortable procedure know as subgingival curettage, a term that leaves most of us squirming in the dental chair. Even though the teeth may be dirty with calculus, they still can be used to bite if one was to attempt this kind of scaling in an awake animal! Breaking off the calculus that is above the surface once was advocated but now it is known that one can actually make matters worse by leaving fragments under the gums. It's still a good idea to start brushing their teeth if you see this problem, but brushing alone will not be enough.

 

Periodontal Disease
As the above problems progress down (or up) the tooth root, the infection and swelling causes the bony attachment of the tooth to disappear. What you would see is the typical "long in the tooth" look. This is the most common disease found in veterinary practice today. Although it causes a moderate amount of discomfort on its own, the real pain comes when the tooth roots are gradually exposed and loose the firm attachment to the jaw. Many times I have seen a cat backing away from a food dish hissing as if it had just been attacked by it. Most times however, this occurs only when a tooth breaks off or suddenly becomes loose. The usual progression is that the animal slowly looses interest in eating over several months. Once all these problem teeth are treated, owners say comments like "he is just like a puppy again" or "I thought she was just getting old!"

 

Remember, old age is not a disease. If your dog or cat is acting sickly, they probably are and its just a question of finding the problem. Dental problems can be one of the factors draining your pet of vitality, not to mention fresh breath. Many people are familiar with "dog toothed lilies" that are so named because their yellow flowers resemble the canine tooth of a dog with a deposit of calculus on it. Wouldn't it be nice to have to rename a flower because we can keep our dog's teeth white?

 

January 29, 2009

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