How often do you brush your teeth? Twice a day of course! Now, how often do you brush your pet’s teeth? If we’re being honest, most people will admit it’s not something that happens every day. As a result, dental disease is common in dogs and cats. As pet owners it can be hard to tell exactly what is going on in your animal’s mouths. So, what are some signs that may indicate your dog or cat has dental disease?
- Bad breath (halitosis)
- Reluctance to eat their normal dry or hard food
- Favouring one side of the mouth
- Dropping food whilst eating
- Drooling
- Change in demeanour or behaviour
Most owners don’t routinely look in their animal’s mouths; it can be very difficult to get a really good look, especially towards the back of the mouth (where many dental issues can occur). Therefore we recommend you see your vet for regular dental checks, so that any problems can be quickly identified.
How do we treat dental disease?
So, your pet has been diagnosed with dental disease – now what? If there is a significant build up of tartar on the teeth, your vet may recommend a full anaesthetic (where they are completely asleep) so we can thoroughly scale and polish the teeth, in much the same way that we might have our teeth cleaned at a human dentist.
If dental disease is advanced, then one or more teeth may require extraction. Although it may seem like an extreme measure to remove diseased teeth, a healthy mouth makes the world of difference. Speaking from experience, afterwards your dog or cat will be much happier. In fact, owners often remark that it’s like having a new pet!