Dog and Cat Dental Care

Bad breath

Inflamed gums

Plaque build up

Jaw pain

Difficulty chewing

Charting all your pet’s present teeth and evaluating their condition, including the degree of tartar, gingivitis (gum inflammation) and any pockets in the gums around the teeth.

Removal of tartar above your pet’s gum line using a special ultrasonic scaler, just like a dentist uses for your teeth.

Polishing your pet’s teeth using a dental polisher and fine-grade paste.

If certain teeth appear to be an issue, we perform dental radiographs which tell us if the affected teeth need to be extracted due to bone loss below the gum line.

In some cases, gum surgery is required to close the incision site from here a tooth is extracted, and dissolvable stitches are used for this procedure.

Daily brushing is the best form of dental hygiene for the long-term prevention of dental disease in dogs and cats.

Start when your pet is at a young age so they become used to the process – but it’s never too late to start!

Ask us about pet toothbrushes and pet toothpaste – do not use human toothpaste formulas as these can be toxic.

With caution, feed your pet raw and meaty bones. You’ll need to ensure bones are suitable for your pet. Please ask for advice before giving your pet a bone. Some bones may cause harm.

Use enzymatic chews or teeth cleaning biscuits to help keep your pet’s teeth clean.

Provide a constantly refreshed supply of water in a clean bowl. As with humans, when cats are dehydrated their breath will smell. Their sense of smell knows when the water is not fresh.

If you notice your dog has bad breath, discoloured or loose teeth, or a change in their appetite or behaviour – chances are your best friend may be experiencing the pain and discomfort of dental disease.

The unsightly tartar build up on your dog’s teeth can often be an obvious indication of dental disease, however, it’s what happens to the nearby gum tissue that’s also of concern. Bacteria can creep into the gum tissue around the teeth and cause inflammation and infection – referred to as gingivitis. This leads to pain and discomfort in the mouth, and can damage and erode the teeth.

Dogs with dental disease are also at risk of developing infections elsewhere in the body because bacteria in the gum tissue can enter the bloodstream, potentially causing problems with your dog’s heart, liver and kidneys. Some breeds of dog can be more at risk of developing disease due to the shape of their mouth. Older dogs are also at greater risk, because their immune systems may be less able to withstand the impact of bacteria entering the bloodstream.

The signs of dental disease can be scary, but the good news is that we’re here to help with our comprehensive dog dental health services.

Give your dog the dental care they deserve

We all know dogs love to chew, and there are several brands of dental chews available which can help reduce tartar build up. The way these dental chews work is that they become sticky when chewed by your dog, and this draws plaque and tartar off the teeth helping to keep the teeth clean.

Much like people brushing their teeth to keep them clean, you can also brush your dog’s teeth using a dog tooth brush and special dog toothpaste. This mechanical brushing action against the teeth surface will help slow the build-up of plaque and tartar. When you book in for your free vet nurse dog dental check, ask us to show you how to brush your dog’s teeth.

An easy way to help prevent the development of dental disease in your dog, is to consider feeding them a specially formulated dog dental biscuit diet, such as Hill’s™ Dental Care t/d Biscuits. When your dog chews these special dog biscuits, as they crunch them up the biscuits help to abrade the surface of the teeth reducing the amount of plaque and tartar on the teeth – slowing the development of dental disease. Watch a video of how this works here – come and visit one of our hospitals to purchase this for your dog.