Skip to main content

Dental Care

Unfortunately, dental disease in dogs and cats is often overlooked, and many people assume that bad breath is normal. Periodontal disease is by far the number one health problem in our cats and dogs.

It is important to consider dental hygiene as a another key component in your pet’s overall heath, together with things like nutrition, proper exercise and routine grooming.  Our pets rely on us to provide them with good oral health care and give them their best lives.

Dental disease can also be involved in many other diseases including kidney, liver and heart disease, due to bacteria travelling through the bloodstream.

Your pets drive to eat is far stronger than avoiding pain so most pets will keep eating despite severe jaw and dental nerve pain.

We stock a variety of products to assist in dental care at home. We stock those products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council. These are products with clinical research to show that they do have a beneficial affect on pet dental health.

Everyone knows how fuzzy your teeth feel after skipping brushing your teeth—this is the beginning of build up of plaque and bacteria. Our pets teeth are the same, and this can build up quickly, within 24 hours of a cleaning.

Our vets are able to perform tooth scaling and polishing with extractions if required. We offer Oral X-Rays, which enable us to make the best decision on tooth removal.

We will also give you advice on how to prevent any further dental problems.

Some of the signs of dental disease that you could look out for:

  • Halitosis (bad breath)
  • Reluctance to chew / chewing on only one side / crying out when chewing
  • Increased salivation
  • Red and/or puffy gums
  • Bleeding gums
  • Tartar / Calculus (hard coating on teeth that is usually brown or yellow; results from plaque build-up)
  • Missing and/or loose teeth
  • Anything else about the mouth that appears unusual

Grades Of Dental Disease

Grade 0 – perfect teeth – our goal

  • No tartar
  • No gum inflammation
  • No gum recession

Grade 1 – early disease but reversible at home

  • Any tartar to mild tartar (photo is the max tartar for grade 1)
  • No gum inflammation
  • No gum recession
  • If no improvement within 4 months – needs a professional clean

Grade 2 – early disease but reversible with professional scale & polish

  • Gum inflammation
  • No gum recession
  • Needs a dental

Grade 3 – moderate disease with some periodontal disease

  • Periodontal disease is not reversible, but can be minimized
  • Moderate tartar
  • Gum inflammation
  • Gum recession
  • Periodontal disease with early pocket formation
  • Possible extractions required

Grade 4 – severe disease with advanced periodontal disease

  • Severe tartar
  • Severe gum recession
  • Advanced periodontal disease – increasing risk of systemic disease (heart, liver, kidney)
  • Many extractions necessary!

Contact the clinic to arrange a free dental examination with one of our nurses.

Pet Dental Care

Dental Chews as Treats

 

Dental Biscuits as complete nutrition