Most people avoid going to the dentist & so don’t think about their pet’s dental health. Unfortunately our pet’s need regular dental check-ups as they don’t brush or floss. Surprisingly four out of five dogs & cats over the age of three years old have a form of dental disease. Dental disease is progressive & increases in severity with age. Your pet may not show that they are suffering from dental disease due to a primitive instinct based on needing to eat to survive. As a result, it is often missed until too late. One of the most common diseases diagnosed by vets is periodontal disease – or bacterial infections of the mouth. Sadly this disease is so easily preventable. Untreated dental disease can lead to serious health concerns, including infection of many major organs.
Signs of periodontal disease (in increasing severity):
- bad breath (halitosis)
- tartar or plaque build up on teeth
- swollen, reddened or bleeding gums
- broken teeth
- reluctance to eat harder foods
- evidence of pus near gums.
Drooling can also be a sign of periodontal disease & other health concerns.
If needed, dental x-rays can be performed to check bone health & for any tooth root abscesses. A dental involves general anaesthesia, under which your pet’s teeth are cleaned, scaled & polished. Any infected or broken teeth will be extracted at this time.
We brush our teeth twice daily as part of good dental hygiene. Our pets also need good preventative dental care. There are various ways this can be achieved. Feeding them large raw bones & dry food are good options. Additional preventative options are dental toys, dental treats (the more rubbery it feels, the better) & even brushing their teeth daily! There are pros & cons to all types of preventative health. Discuss them with your veterinarian & see if your pet needs a dental. Come in today for a dental check-up so your pet can have a bright smile.