Here at Pawsome Vets, we want to look after your pets from the tip of their nose to the tops of their tail. As owners, we know that you want to do the best for your furry friends, so we want to share our tips on how to stay on top of your pets dental hygiene, as well as delving more into what dental disease actually is.
So let’s take a closer look at how you can look after your dog and cat’s teeth, as well as the different signs and symptoms associated with dental disease.
What is dental disease in dogs and cats?
Dental disease is a common health condition in veterinary where the teeth and gums are affected. This can be due to tooth fractures, plaque and tartar build-up or gingivitis.
In fact, dental disease is so common in pets that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats can be diagnosed before the age of 3!
Common symptoms include:
- Halitosis: bad breath
- Gingivitis: Inflammation of the gums where they look red, swollen or even bleed
- Excessive drooling
- Tartar and plaque: A yellow or brown staining, or build up around the teeth close to the gum line
- Loose or broken teeth
- Facial swelling, commonly underneath the eye or side of the face – Reluctance to eat
Dental disease symptoms can range from mild to severe and many pets often suffer in silence, still exhibiting normal behaviours and eating as normal. Attending routine health checks and vaccination appointments provide plenty of opportunity for our Pawsome team to identify any problems with their oral health.
Affordable Wellness Plans For Dogs and Cats
We believe that preventable veterinary care should be available to all of our clients. That’s why we have created unique wellness plans for cats and dogs to help split the cost of veterinary care over the year.
Our wellness plans are designed to make looking after your cat or dog easier, more cost effective, and stress-free. Each plan is packed with benefits to help keep your pet happy and healthy all year round.
Pets enrolled on our Pawsome Wellness Plan benefit from:
- One complimentary veterinary consultation
- Two free nurse consultations
- Ongoing parasite protection, covering fleas, ticks, mites, and worms
- 10% off any dental treatment your pet may need
- Kennel cough vaccination included for dogs
We know that the cost of vaccinations can sometimes be difficult. That’s why annual vaccinations are built into our wellness plans, helping spread the cost across manageable monthly payments.
No unexpected bills – just peace of mind knowing your pet’s routine healthcare is already taken care of!
Can dental disease be avoided in cats and dogs?
Dental disease is a common problem and sometimes even with the very best dental routine, pets may still require a dental procedure at some stage. However, we believe that prevention is always key, so here are our top tips to keep your pets teeth in line with that Hollywood smile!
- Daily brushing: Just like humans, our pets benefit from daily brushing. Pet friendly toothbrushes are less harsh on the teeth and gums, whilst still getting into the nooks and crannies to keep their teeth squeaky clean. We recommend using an enzymatic toothpaste, which is a safe to swallow formula that helps to break down plaque-forming bacteria.
Regular brushing helps to reduce bad breath, whilst also being palatable. Often, toothpastes are poultry or beef flavoured.
- Dental chews: Not all dental chews are created equal, as many can be high in calories and sugars. Some of the best dental chews are completely natural, such as dried fish skins. These are crunchy in texture and help to break down plaque before it starts to become a problem. Plus, pets find them delicious!
- Prescription diets: In some cases, we may recommend a prescription dental diet. These use specialised large kibble which is formulated to act similar to a toothbrush. The kibble helps to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth.
- Avoiding sugary treats: Similar to humans, too much sugar is bad for our pets teeth. We recommend purchasing healthy treats that are 100% natural, as this causes less harm for our furry friends.
What happens in a dental procedure for dogs and cats?
Many pets need a dental procedure at some point in their lifetime. This is a common procedure that is routinely performed on a daily basis. Dental procedures require a general anaesthetic in order to keep them safe whilst plaque, tartar and sometimes teeth are removed.
- Charting: Your pets teeth will be charted, and this involves a physical examination and probing of the tooth. This helps us to evaluate whether the tooth requires an extraction.
- Scale and polish: Using a scaler head removes plaque, tartar and staining from your pets teeth. This helps to reduce gum recession and bad breath.
- X-rays: In some cases we may take x-rays of your pets teeth and mouth. This helps us to visualise the condition of the tooth that is below the gum line whilst also assessing the roots.
- Extractions: We use specialised tools such as a dental drill and elevators in order to remove any teeth. Please note that we only remove teeth that are required to be extracted – we will never remove teeth that are healthy.
We aim to carry out dental procedures as quickly as possible, but it is likely that a dental procedure will be performed after ‘cleaner’ procedures, such as a bitch spay or dog castration. This is because the mouth can contain bacteria that we don’t want to be passing on to cleaner surgeries.
Final thoughts on dental procedures
Dental procedures are a common procedure carried out here at Pawsome Vets. Our highly trained veterinary surgeons have over 20 years of combined experience, so be rest assured that your pet will receive the highest possible care.
Supporting our veterinary surgeons is a skilled team of 3 qualified veterinary nurses, a student nurse and an animal care assistant, ensuring that the procedure runs as smoothly as possible.
If you’re worried about the condition of your pets teeth, book an appointment with one of our team.
If you’re looking to register with a trusted veterinary practice in Sutton in Ashfield, Mansfield, Kirkby in Ashfield and the surrounding areas, then Pawsome Vets would be delighted to welcome you and your pets into the Pawsome family.
