Winston LeBlanc
Assiez! Le main! Viens ici! Winston came with a basic set of French commands and no manual. Our client services co-ordinator, Vanessa, adopted him from a rescue society is Quebec when he was 18 months old. Winston is every inch a typical terrier. He is high energy and maybe a little too smart for his own good. His only speed setting is “fast”.
Being a smaller breed of dog placed Winston at risk for increased periodontal disease. Vanessa had anticipated that his teeth would need special attention and has been vigilant about providing dental homecare to both Winston and his little brother, Copain. He eats Medi-Cal dental formula and regularly has his teeth brushed. With careful attention to home care practises, Vanessa was able to delay the need for a professional cleaning for several years.
As with our own teeth, we can brush diligently at home but still require regular professional cleanings. It is important to have a thorough scaling, polishing, and oral exam to maintain good oral health. Unlike ourselves, dogs do not sit happily and open their mouths to let us clean their teeth properly. A professional dental cleaning is performed under general anesthetic to ensure that we are reaching the most important areas of the mouth – the ones that you can’t see! Cleaning the calculus that accumulates on the crown of the tooth is only half the battle. The real damage is done by bacteria that live below that gumline and are not removed by brushing alone.
We all know someone who has a filling in every tooth and their brother who hasn’t had a cavity in his life. Like us, no two dogs have mouths that behave the same. A complex set of factors including genetics, immune status, and susceptibility to various types of oral bacteria influence how quickly periodontal disease will progress. Some dogs reach their senior years with beautiful teeth and some have had many extractions by the time they are several years old. Because Winston’s mouth accumulates tartar rather quickly, he will be receiving regular professional cleanings. Winston’s New Years Resolution will be to learn how to floss and conquer his fear of thunderstorms!
