Vet Dentist - Keeping your Pets Teeth Healthy
Dental disease is one of the most common ailments in pets due to a combination of dietary and genetic factors. As a Vet Dentist, we provide regular dental exams, scaling and polishing of teeth ought to be a routine part of keeping the mouth of your pet pain-free, healthy, preventing periodontal disease, and unnecessary tooth loss.
If you have ever had a dental problem yourself, you will be aware it can be excruciating. Unfortunately, pets cannot vocalise the pain caused by dental issues. Gingivitis is the first step on the road to periodontal disease, which is painful and ultimately irreversible if left too long. Infections associated with dental disease can gradually cause damage to the vital organs in your pet's body through bacteraemia.
Once we perform dental cleanings and other dental procedures, we hope you continue proper pet dental care at home. Our veterinarians can show you how to brush your pet’s teeth to reduce the need for dental interventions in the future. We can also discuss other ideas to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy.
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Pet Dental Care:Many pet owners report that their pet appears significantly happier after dental work has been done, reflecting the underlying pain resolving. |
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Treating Dogs and Cats For Dental Disease
Dogs and cats can be very good at hiding signs of oral pain and dental disease. Some animals with severe dental disease, including root exposure, severe gingivitis (inflammation of the gums), and tooth root infections, will continue to eat, showing only subtle signs that something is wrong. This often leads to an animal requiring multiple extractions of teeth, we can combat this by providing daily tooth brushing
What are the signs of dental disease in pets?
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Visible tartar build-up on teeth
- Red or inflamed gums (gingivitis)
- Discoloured teeth
- Drooling
- Loose teeth
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Slowness or reluctance to eat
- Chewing on one side of the mouth
- Dropping food from the mouth when eating
- Swelling around the mouth (from potential tooth root abscesses)
Why does dental disease occur?
Food and saliva that is left behind on the teeth will form plaque on the tooth. Plaque is soft and can be removed by brushing or using alternative dental products.
If not removed, the plaque will harden forming tartar, which is difficult to remove without dentistry intervention. If tartar is not removed (normally via dental de-scaling) then bacteria will spread below the gum line, causing red sore gums. This is called gingivitis and periodontitis, which in turn can lead to loss of teeth, infection of the tooth root and jawbone infections.
Cats also get another form of dental disease known as feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLs). It has an unknown cause, but 75% of cats are thought to be affected. It is particularly common in cats over five years but can occur at any age.
In these lesions, part of the tooth is eaten away by the tooth itself, forming a small hole in the enamel close to the gum line. These lesions are very painful for cats and can lead to tooth fractures as they weaken the teeth. They require extraction to resolve.
What Can I Do To Keep My Pets Teeth Healthy?
The best way to maintain healthy teeth is to brush your pet's teeth daily. This is easiest to start when your pets are younger but can be introduced at any age. The team would be happy to help with advice on introducing this to your cat or dog.
It can also be beneficial to have a scale and polish performed regularly to clean the teeth thoroughly. This is similar to the treatment we would receive from a dental hygienist. These are done under a short general anaesthetic as our patients won’t sit in one position for a prolonged period and we must ensure their safety and the team’s safety when in the vicinity of sharp teeth!
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Vet Dentist - Emergency Dental Work
We understand that many pet owners occasionally face an emergency when their pet breaks or injures a tooth and need to see a Vet Dentist. We have the right equipment and tools for emergency dental work.
Our emergency dental work is done to a high clinical standard, and the following is included (as applicable):
- Dental x-rays are carried before teeth are extracted.
- IV fluids (if needed), enhancing anaesthetic safety and speeding recovery
- Dental nerve blocks to provide excellent pain relief for pets having extractions
- Teeth are extracted surgically (where appropriate) so the gum is stitched closed.
Dog & Cat Dentist - Ongoing Care and Recommendations
Pet dental health is particularly important for each pet’s lifelong, overall health. The vet dentist team at Blythwood recommends ongoing, at-home pet dental care to preserve your pet’s oral well-being. We recommend a range of select dental health care products, which are used by veterinarians with our pets. These include pet toothpaste and products that are easy to use, such as treats, supplements, and more! There are liquids that can be added to your pet’s water to help reduce plaque build-up and reduce bad breath (halitosis) as well as veterinary dental diets. We can help you choose and utilise the best products for your pet’s lifestyle and needs.
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