Dental Information

During your annual visit for a vaccination or health check one of our vets will assess your pet’s dental health.
It is important for owners to check your pet’s mouth and look for any signs of gum inflammation (Gingivitis).  Gingivitis is when the gum line next to the teeth appears redder than the rest of the gum, or tartar (a chalky material) is visible on your dog and cats’ teeth.
If your pet does have discomfort they may rub or paw at the mouth, have bad breath, or change their eating habits. If they are reluctant to eat or dropping food when eating or chewing strangely it’s important to come in for a health check.

Dogs require regular dental care to prevent gum disease from occurring.  Gum disease is five times more common in dogs than it is in humans and if left untreated can cause cavities and gum problems and can lead to your pet losing their teeth which is why it’s important to maintain good dental hygiene regularly

You can help keep your pets’ teeth healthy by brushing your pets’ teeth, giving dental chews, and providing them with the correct diet.  If you would like to book a free nurse consultation to discuss looking after your pets’ teeth, please give us a call and ask to book an appointment with one of our nurses.

We recommend brushing your dog’s teeth daily with a special dog toothbrush and toothpaste.

Descaling and polishing your pets’ teeth.

This procedure enables the vet to clean your pets’ teeth above and below the gum line where bacteria can accumulate.  It will also remove plaque and tartar from a dog or a cat’s teeth.  As part of this your pets’ teeth are polished this helps to reduce the speed at which tartar can reoccur.

Ultrasonic descaling is the most effective procedure to remove tartar from a pet’s teeth, it may cause a small amount of bleeding from the gum edge when its removed but it’s not a painful process. Your pet will go back to eating their normal diet once they are awake from the anaesthetic.

Dental Extractions

We recommend dental x-ray prior to extractions this gives the vet a much better view of your pet’s mouth and any problems that may otherwise look healthy to the naked eye.

Your pet may need extractions if your pet has fractures, abscesses, cavities, and lesions which will all be very painful if left untreated.  Dogs and cats have some very large teeth and multiple roots.  Large teeth are harder to remove and may case the gum or socket to need dissolvable stitches if the cavity is too large and there is concern food may get impacted.

We recommend after extractions that your pets are fed softer food than their normal diet.  Dogs should avoid chewing toys and other hard objects.  Once your pets’ cavities have healed your pet can go back to eating their normal diet