Dentistry
Pets need to have their teeth taken care of if they are to live a long and healthy life. Dental disease, rotten teeth, inflamed gums and other dental issues can be painful; their breath would smell bad and can actually be toxic for other parts of the body.
Dentistry
A build-up of bacteria, saliva and food debris can result in an accumulation of plaque on the teeth. Calcium salts are deposited and the plaque turns yellowish or brown and becomes tartar. Tartar and plaque on the teeth can lead to periodontal disease. This can affect the structures and tissues that support the teeth. This can result in the loss of teeth, oral pain and even kidney and heart problems.
Common signs of dental issues include:
- Tartar on the gumline (yellow/brown build-up)
- Red, inflamed gums
- Change in chewing or eating habits
- Bad breath
- Excessive drooling
- Pawing at the mouth or face
- Bleeding or pain on contact with the mouth or gums
If you suspect your pet may have periodontal disease or other dental problems, please drop by for out walk in consultations to have it checked out. Early detection can save your pet a lot of pain and even prevent tooth loss.
Dental Surgery
Due to tartar build-up, pets can experience periodontal disease. This can result in inflammation of the gums, loosening of teeth, bad breath and damage to the supportive tissues and bones. If left untreated, dental disease can even cause damage to the kidneys, heart and liver and make the animal very ill. If your pet shows symptoms of dental disease, take them to the vet for an examination. After an assessment you vet may recommend a dental clean. This involves anaesthetising the pet so that a complete examination can be done.
The examination includes:
- Charting all teeth present
- Evaluating the condition of all teeth
- Checking tartar levels
- Checking for gingivitis and gum disease
What Happens During and After Your Pet's Dental Clean
The vet will then use an ultrasonic scaler to remove all the tartar that shows above the gumline. The teeth will also be polished using a special paste. If there are no further issues, that will be the end of the dental procedure. If teeth cannot be saved due to decay or damage, they may be extracted as well. Gum surgery may be required to close holes from extractions. Your pet will receive anti-inflammatory and antibiotic injections. Your pet will spend a little time in recovery and can usually go home on the same day.
Your vet will help you implement a concise dental plan to ensure your pet does not have the same issues in future. Some recommendations may include daily brushing with pet safe toothpaste, feeding raw bones, making use of dental toys or even a special diet to prevent future tartar build-up. Your pet should then have another check-up with the vet 6 months after the clean to check on recovery and make sure the problem is not reoccurring.
Prevention of dental disease
The best way to reduce the risk of dental disease is to practise adequate home care. This can include:
- Brushing teeth with a pet safe toothpaste daily (do not use human toothpaste)
- Giving your pet enzymatic chews, dental toys and teeth cleaning biscuits
- Feed your pet special dental diets
- Offer raw bones on occasion
- Check their teeth regularly for build-up
Taking good care of your pet’s teeth can reduce the need for dental cleans and even surgery. Clean teeth and healthy gums can help your pet’s health and well-being. A professional dental clean involves a thorough investigation. Anti-inflammatories and antibiotics may be recommended. Extractions may also be required. Our vets will also discuss preventative measures to prevent future dental problems.
If you have any questions or need to have your pet’s teeth assessed, drop by, our clinic has walk in appointments.
