Dental disease is a very common problem in cats and dogs and a lot of the time it goes unnoticed by owners. How often do you check your pet’s teeth?

What is Dental Disease? 

Dental disease is caused by a build-up of plaque on your pet’s teeth which leads to it calcify and harden causing tartar also known as calculus. Plaque causes gingivitis (an inflammation of the gums) which when left untreated causes periodontitis, where the infection travels along the side of the tooth roots and causes damage to the ligaments and bones that support the tooth. This will eventually result in the loss of the tooth. It is also possible that bacteria can enter the bloodstream which can cause problems like heart and kidney disease. This can happen over a long or short period of time depending on many factors: age, geneneral health, diet, breed, in-home dental care and the frequency of dental care received by a vet.

What are the Signs you should look out for? 

  • Yellow or brown staining on the teeth
  • Redness of the gums
  • Bad breath
  • Excessive salivation
  • Painful or loose teeth
  • Reluctance or difficulty eating

Did you know?

Dental disease affects over 85% of cats and dogs over the age of 3 years. 

Prevention: 

  • Check your pet’s teeth at home once a week.
  • Brush your pet’s teeth –  preferably daily, but at least three times a week, goes a long way to helping them have healthy mouths
  • Using a Dental dry food e.g. Hills Prescription Diet T/D, this is available for cats and dogs.
  • Raw carrot or apple
  • Use Oravet, Greenies or other Dental chews (be sure to follow package instructions because these can be high in fat)
  • Oral cleansing gels & water additives
  • Plaque-off

Treatment:

To help prevent your pet’s teeth getting worse or to spot the early signs of dental disease, make sure you get your pet’s teeth checked at least once a year by a vet. At Healthy Pet Mobile Vet your pet’s teeth are checked at their yearly health check and vaccinations and we will advise you on how to best care for his or her teeth. If your pet’s teeth are looking like they need special attention we may recommend a dental scale and polish. This involves them going under general anaesthesia to ensure that their mouths can be examined properly, teeth cleaned thoroughly and other dental work done if necessary.

If you have any questions regarding dental disease or would like to book an appointment, please call us on 0481 527 678 or 0481 569 570.

 

We love your suggestions! If you would like to know more about a particular topic, please email us at vet@healthypetmobilevet.com.au.