How do I perform an oral exam on my pets? Awareness of potential problems within your pet’s mouth is an important and often overlooked aspect of pet caretaking. Although your companion dog or cat receives a professional examination from your primary care veterinarian at least once a year, there are multiple benefits from periodically looking inside your pet’s mouth on a regular basis.
An oral exam has the potential to be received in a more positive manner than by a veterinarian in what may be considered a stressful environment. The oral cavity is ever-changing, and you have the ability to identify potential problems in their infancy at a time when there may be multiple or potentially more effective treatment options available.
How To Perform an Oral Exam on Pets:
Personal safety is of the utmost importance. Pain can lead to aversive behavior. If you believe or suspect your pet may react in an aversive manner, such as biting, do not proceed with attempting to open and inspect your pet’s mouth.
An oral exam should be performed when your pet is in a calm and relaxed state and in an equally calm and relaxed environment. Placing your hands within the business end of a carnivore’s mouth should always be done conscientiously and with full respect for the form and function of those teeth in mind, no matter how cute or tame that carnivore may be!
Step 1: Make Your Pet Feel Comfortable
To perform an oral exam on your pets, start with petting your companion on the head and face, working your way to the lips and muzzle. Feel for symmetry of the facial bones by running your fingers along their length, feeling for any swelling, heat/inflammation, and noting any areas that your pet does not seem to appreciate being touched. The bones of the face should be symmetrical from side to side in normal dogs and cats.
Step 2: Inspect the Outer Surface of the Teeth and Oral Cavity
If your pet is tolerating these touches along their muzzle and jaws, you can gently raise the lip of one side of the mouth. Inspect the outer tooth surfaces for the presence of tartar/calculus, which will often appear tan to brown in color.
Inspect the teeth for discoloration, noting that healthy tooth enamel is white but may appear stained in some instances. This can be either normal or abnormal. Don’t worry about trying to determine which; just note any differences that you see. Pink, purple, red, gray, or tan discolorations would be noteworthy.
Inspect the teeth for fractures or imperfections of the crowns of the teeth. Remember that the oral cavity is bilaterally symmetrical, so if you’re seeing something that appears abnormal, you can always check to see what the other side looks like and compare.
Look as far back in the oral cavity as you can, realizing that there are teeth hiding waaaay back in that mouth, often far beyond what you can see with a cursory lifting of the lip. Work your way around the perimeter of the mouth, to the front teeth or incisors, and around the other side.
Remember that the upper (maxillary) teeth sit just outside of the lower (mandibular) teeth, so to be able to see the outside (or buccal surface) of those lower premolars and molars, you will need to open your pet’s mouth slightly.
Also, get a good look at your pet’s gums (gingiva). You’ll be looking for signs of inflammation (redness, possibly bleeding easily with manipulation), recession, and especially any areas of swelling or growths.
Step 3: Inspect the Inner Surface of the Teeth and Oral Cavity
After you’ve examined the outer surfaces of your pet’s teeth, see if they will let you open their mouth for a look at the inner surfaces (lingual surfaces), the tongue, and the roof of the mouth (palate).
Even the most compliant of animals will only allow a relatively brief examination of the interior oral cavity, so definitely don’t try to push your luck here if your pet is putting up resistance. Note if your pet is displaying any discomfort upon opening their mouth. Are they able to open their mouth fully?
Finally, look at the interior surfaces of the lips and under the tongue. During the entire process, use all of your senses! Are there any clicking/popping noises? Is there a foul odor? Ok, maybe don’t use ALL of your senses … no taste is required on your part during your pet’s oral examination!!
Step 4: Oral Exam Fun
Remember to make this as fun, fear-free, and pain-free as possible. Offering treats as payment for cooperation is always recommended! This also gives you an opportunity to watch how your pet is chewing their food.
Are they favoring one side over the other? Do they swallow food whole without even attempting to chew? Do they seem to struggle to get food down during swallowing? Note any abnormalities you see.
After you’ve successfully had a survey of the mouth, tongue, teeth, and oral tissue, jot down any abnormalities that you see and notify your veterinarian and/or local veterinary dental specialist.
Final Thoughts
At Montana Pet Dentistry and Oral Surgery, our primary goal is to ensure that all of our cherished pets have a healthy and comfortable mouth. We would be happy to evaluate your pet’s mouth and work with you as a team to help provide that health and comfort. Please contact us with any questions at (406)599-4789 or to schedule a professional oral evaluation with Melissa Guillory, DVM, DAVDC.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (12/6/2024) Image by Cindy Parks from Pixabay