Dental Care Tips
Just like us, our pets’ oral health is as important as their overall health. The build-up of tartar and saliva can lead to decay and gum disease. It’s a good idea to get your pets familiar with oral inspections and touching around their chin and teeth to build trust for oral health checks. Introducing puppies and kittens to regular checks is one of the best tips we have to make this process easier for you and your pet. The less used to
You should gently move your dog’s or cat’s lips and inspect their teeth regularly for a build-up of tartar and check their gums. Using toothpaste and brushes is one of the best preventatives and oral hygiene practices for tartar. If your dogs and cats won’t let you near their teeth, there are some other options you can turn to for reducing tartar and bad breath. They can chew on dental sticks or have liquids added to their water. Certain foods and diets can also benefit your pet’s oral health, speak to our team today for advice on the best treatment for your pet.
Pet Oral Health Symptoms
Dogs often disguise their dental struggles from us and knowing if they’re in pain can be difficult, however, knowing some symptoms of dental disease is useful.
- Plaque and tartar build-up
- Bad breath
- Inflamed or red gums
- Loose teeth & bleeding
- Drooling
- Reluctancy to eat
- Chewing on one side of the mouth
- Dropping food when eating
- Swollen mouth (potential root abscesses)
If your pet is showing some of these signs, and tooth brushing isn’t a habit that works well with them, then tooth polishing under anaesthesia may be required.
Pet oral health is something to introduce to your pets as early in your care for them, as possible. Desensitising them to this physical touch is ideal but sharp teeth are something to be careful around! Speak to our team today if you are concerned you cannot brush your pet’s teeth.
Oral Health Conditions
Gingivitis and Periodontitis are diseases which can lead to tooth loss. Bacteria around the gums, which can build up without regular brushing, can lead to infection and painful abscesses in the tooth root and jawbone. This is why regularly inspecting your pet’s mouth is significant and learning the best solutions for reducing plaque on their teeth is key.
In Cats, there is a dental disease with an unknown cause called ‘Feline Odontoclastic Resorptive Lesions’. This is common In cats of any age and is the result of the tooth eating away at itself forming a hole in the enamel close to the gum. These painful conditions can lead to tooth fractures and require extraction.
Contact and Book Appointments
For more information on dog, cat and rabbit oral health and dental care, see our pages or book an appointment with our vets to receive advice on the best steps for your pets’ dental treatment.
