While we recommend brushing your pet's teeth daily, we know that's just not possible for everyone. As you can imagine, years of plaque and tartar can really build up, frequently leading to dental disease. Dental disease can be painful for our pets and can affect their overall quality of life. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have dental disease by the age of 3.
Common signs of dental disease can include:
- Yellow or brown buildup (tartar) on the teeth
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Bad breath
- Excessive drooling
- Changes in eating or chewing habits
- Pawing at the face
- Loose teeth
While not all pets with dental disease will show obvious signs, having your pet's teeth examined annually can help catch dental disease before it progresses.
Our clinic offers COHAT's (a Complete Oral Health Assessment and Treatment) under general anesthetic. A COHAT begins with a full mouth scale and polish, similar to what you and I would have done at the dentist. It also includes full mouth radiographs in order to detect any problems under the gum line, where most infections begin. Advanced cases of dental disease often require tooth removal, where some teeth may be broken and exposing sensitive pulp, may have become infected or have begun to decay.
For any dental concerns, let one of our reception team book an appointment with one of our veterinarians who can do a preliminary evaluation of your pets oral cavity health and can then decide on the best course of action for optimum dental health and care.