By Sarah Eaton, DVM, DACT
Williams Lake Animal Care Hospital

Dogs have 42 adult teeth and cats have 36 adult teeth.  The number of teeth in an animal’s mouth does not vary based on its size, so little dogs have the same number of teeth as big dogs, just crammed into a smaller space.  Dogs and cats do not each as much junk food as people, but they can still develop tartar, gingivitis, and loose teeth.

The signs of dental disease in pets include discolored teeth, bad breath, trouble eating, swelling of the face and jaw, or pus from the nose.  Severe dental disease can lead to abscesses either under the skin or into the sinuses which complicates treatment and healing.

Your veterinarian evaluates each pet for signs of dental disease at its annual health examination.  The veterinarian looks at the teeth, smells the teeth, and feels each tooth to see if it is loose or painful.  The front teeth and canines each have one root, where as the premolars and molars can have 1-3 roots each depending on the size of the tooth.

Each tooth root contains a pulp cavity that feeds and provides sensation to the tooth.  Exposing the pulp cavity either due to dental disease or broken teeth can allow an infection to travel up the tooth root and into the bones of the skull.  Damaged teeth are often extremely painful due to the exposed nerve.

Dental care for pets is similar to dental care for humans except that pets are anesthetized for an in depth examination and cleaning.  The use of anesthesia allows for a better cleaning as well as measurement of any gum pockets or other defects.

During a dental cleaning each tooth is cleaned and polished, similar to what happens at a human dentist.  Any teeth that are damaged are usually removed.  Veterinarians who specialize in dentistry can perform advance surgeries to save teeth such as root canals and capping damaged teeth.

This is important for dogs that use their teeth for work such as police dogs.  Proper dental care for cats and dogs can help them live a longer, happier life.