38 DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



tartar of the teeth of a dog contains calcium carbonate 50.79 per cent., 

 calcium phosphate 41.4.3 per cent., sodium chlorate 1.02 per cent., po- 

 tassium sulphate 1.02 per cent., mucus and food debris 4.05 per cent., 

 water with traces of magnesium carbonate 2.71 per cent. The tartar 

 can be removed by scraping it off with a small cup-shaped instrument 

 or a sound with a leaf-like tongue. Some remove it with a hook-shaped 

 pair of pincers. If there is a large quantity of tartar on the teeth, it is 

 best to put the dog under ether and avoid struggling on the part of the 

 animal, and also facilitate the removal of the tartar without injuring 

 the soft structures of the mouth. The teeth can then be cleaned with 

 such tooth powders as chalk, charcoal, using a tooth brush or a 

 coarse cloth, Albrecht advises in cases of tatar formation to take a 

 blunt stick, cover the end with a cloth, and dip it in pumice stone and 

 alcohol and rub on the teeth. 



Alveolar Periostitis. — Inflammation of the alveolar periosteum or 

 the so-called alveolar dental membrane in combination with suppura- 

 tive periostitis alveolaris purulenta (periodentitis purulenta) is a very 

 important disease, as it has a very important bearing on the value of 

 certain breeds, particularly the terrier class. If it affects very young 

 animals, it is apt to destroy portions of the enamel and leave the teeth 

 unsightly and discolored. This condition is very apt to follow diseases 

 of the blood in very young animals, particularly those that are anaemic, 

 have persistent diarrhoea or have distemper at that period when the 

 permanent teeth are just about or are coming through the gums. 



Caries of the Teeth. — This condition has been observed by a num- 

 ber of authors (Moller, Hoffman), but is of very rare occurrence. 



Caries of the teeth may result from the teeth being broken by 

 animals in play catching hard objects, stones, coal, etc., sharp bodies 

 running into the gums or becoming imbedded between the teeth. 



By caries clentum, we define an active process of molecular de- 

 struction of the enamel and bone of the teeth. This process always 

 begins on the surface and mainly in the cavity of the crown of the tooth 

 forming a grayish or blackish spot. This spot, which is the decayed 

 part of the tooth, advances deeper into the tooth, going on toward the 

 pulp. This penetrates into the tooth until it reaches the nerve, and 

 thus exposes it to the atmosphere, inflames it and makes it very 

 sensitive. 



There are certain microbes found in carious teeth, but whether they 

 are directly connected with the decay of the teeth is not definitely 

 known. True dental caries is very rare in the dog. Necrosis of the 

 teeth is frequently mistaken for caries. In old dogs we often see an 

 acute inflammation of the periosteum and the alveolar process becoming 

 inflamed, the tooth is lifted out of its socket, and finally forced out entirely. 



