By DR. FRED SELF / Veterinarian

Dental care is very important. Whether you are a dog, cat, goat, horse or person, teeth are an integral part of your daily life.

Teeth serve several functions. They are a form of protection, they allow for cutting and chewing of food and they help maintain the appearance of the mouth and face.

Because parts of their job can be life saving, it is important to keep teeth in as good a condition as possible.

Animals have a similar set of dental problems to those humans have. The difference is the cause of those problems.

A common condition we see in our pets and humans that can cause tooth loss is gum disease. If tooth brushing is not performed, bacteria and tartar build up at the gum line and start to undermine the gum. This causes the junction between the tooth, gum and bone to be loosened. Over time, the loosened tooth will fall out.

Teeth can also wear down. Humans tend to grind their teeth, often in their sleep. Animals wear down their teeth by chewing on objects. Dogs for instance may chew sticks and fencing. Because a dog’s teeth grow for a limited time, a dog that chews rocks and wears down his teeth loses them forever.

A horse that wears down his chewing teeth while eating is fortunate. Horses have a form of tooth that continues growing as long as they live.

Another condition common to humans and animals is the tooth root abscess. An abscess can form as the result of bacteria traveling down the tooth. Abscesses can also occur if the tooth is broken and bacteria makes its way into the pulp cavity, a central tube in the tooth that reaches the tooth root. Either way, once the bacteria reaches the space around the tooth root an abscess forms. This can be treated with a root canal or by tooth removal.

The keys to good dental care are knowing that problems can occur and having regular exams. If you know that your pet’s teeth should be brushed and your livestock’s teeth should be floated you are ahead of the game.

By making regular inspections of the inside of their mouths, looking for color changes and sharp points, you can help improve the quality of your favorite four-legged friend’s life.

Dr. Fred Self is a veterinarian at Shelbiana Animal Clinic in Columbiana, along with Dr. Charles Thornburg. You can reach them at 669-7717.