Hello. I am adopting a four- or five-year old Pomeranian who
was rescued from a puppy mill. They had to remove
her back teeth because of the owner not taking
care of her. When I went to visit her she came
right over and sat on my lap. I was wondering what is
the best diet for her to be on since she does not
have back teeth. I just want to make her life a
little better than it is now.
Thanks

Gerald
Lancaster Ohio

First, let me congratulate you on rescuing an animal that needed a home. Based on what you have described regarding your dog´s behavior, I suspect that she will make a very nice pet.

Before I answer your question about what to feed her, I would like to point out that the loss of your dog´s rear teeth does not by itself indicate that she has been neglected. Many factors play a role in the development of dental disease. These include home care, genetics, breed and diet. Pomeranians are very highly predisposed to dental problems, and there are plenty of well-cared-for, well-loved four-year-old Pomeranians living without rear teeth. They generally live comfortable, happy lives.

And there is more good news: most dogs and cats that have lost teeth can eat the same diets as those who have not. I know pets who happily gum down hard food even though they don´t have a single tooth in their mouth.

Because dry food is generally better for pets´ teeth than soft food, I recommend that you try a high-quality dry food for your dog first. If she has difficulty eating it, then you may have to try something softer (such as moistened kibble or a high-quality canned food).

In either case, remember that your new pet is at risk of developing more dental problems in the future. Brush her remaining teeth daily, and have a vet check her mouth once or twice each year.

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We took our dog Toby (mixed Yorkie) to the vet
today to have his teeth cleaned. We had to leave
him for the day. They pulled 11 teeth–mostly all the
front ones.

Rosemary
Winder, PA

I certainly realize how shocking it can be to learn that your pet has lost such a large number of teeth. However, it is extremely unlikely that you have shortened Toby’s life through such extensive dental work. In fact, it is very likely that the opposite is true–he almost certainly will live longer as a result of the dental work.

That seems counterintuitive. After all, pets use their teeth and mouth for many functions that humans perform with our hands. So how can it be beneficial to lose teeth?

Of course, it is not beneficial to lose healthy teeth. However, vets don’t pull healthy teeth. In most cases, teeth that are extracted are so severely diseased that they no longer are functional. They may be too loose to be useful. They may be infected or have exposed nerves that cause intense pain. There is very little chance that Toby was using any of the teeth that were pulled. Therefore, the loss of the teeth should not interfere with his ability to eat or play ball.

Although Toby most certainly would have been better off keeping 11 healthy teeth, the extraction of 11 severely diseased teeth will benefit his health dramatically in the long run.

The key for the future is to try to prevent such serious disease from developing on other teeth. The best way to prevent dental disease in pets is to brush their teeth daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and veterinary toothpaste (don’t ever use human toothpaste). However, remember that heredity plays a role in dental disease. There is a chance that no matter how careful you are, Toby will need more dental work in the future.

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Dr. Barchas:
How often would you recommend professional dental
cleaning by a vet for my pooch? She is 4 and has
had her teeth cleaned already, I brush about 3X
per week and add a rinse to her water- yet she
still has redness at the gum line and a little
bleeding?? I am concerned about this but also
about putting her “under” as well.

Janis
Chatsworth, CA

The answer to this question is different for every pet. There is no formula that can be used to time dental work in all dogs and cats. I am sorry, but the best answer I can give is: pets need dental work when they need dental work.

So, how can you tell when your pet needs dental work? There are several symptoms of dental disease. Bad breath and discolored teeth are common. As well, pets may become lethargic, their coats may smell bad, they may drool, and red gums or loose teeth may be noted. Most pets with dental disease do not lose their appetites.

Dental disease is serious. It is very painful. It has been linked to kidney problems, cancer, heart problems, premature death, diabetes, bladder infections, tooth loss, and many, many other problems.

Vets do themselves a tremendous disservice when they refer to animal dental work as “teeth cleaning”. Sure, we clean the teeth. But we also do a complete intra-oral exam, probe pockets, perform supra- and subgingival scaling, perform root planing, extract or repair teeth, and perform intra-oral radiographs. In the end, the teeth are clean, which is nice. But the fancy-sounding medical procdures are what really help the pet. They make the mouth healthy.

To get back to your situation: if your dog has red, bleeding gums, she almost certainly needs dental work. At the very least, you should have a vet look at her mouth.

And, although no formula can determine how often pets should undergo dental work, there is a simple rule that you can use to make sure your pet’s mouth stays healthy. Go to a good vet for regular checkups every 6 months. Have the vet assess the teeth (as well as the rest of the body!). The vet will be able to tell you if and when dental work is needed, and whether the benefits of dental work outweigh the risks of anesthesia.

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