13/10/2026
🦷 Dental Disease in Pets 🦷
Dental Disease is more than just bad breath and is one of the most common health problems affecting our pets. Just like their human counterparts, cats and dogs can develop plaque, tartar build up, gingivitis and painful dental infections.
🦷 Why Is A Healthy Mouth So Important?
When plaque or tartar build up on the teeth, bacteria can enter the blood stream under the gumline. This in turn can affect your pets heart and kidney health. Without treatment, dental disease can lead to tooth loss and can affect your pets overall health and quality of life, not to mention it can be extremely painful.
🚩 Signs of Dental Disease
- Bad breath
- Yellow/brown/grey buildup on the teeth
- Red, swollen or bleeding gums
- Difficulty eating/preferring wet food
- Drooling or pawing at the mouth
- Loose or missing teeth
- Irritability or reluctance to having their face touched
🩺What Are The Treatment Options?
- Professional cleaning performed under general anaesthesia
- Dental X-rays to identify any problems hidden beneath the gum line
- Tooth extractions of severely damaged, infected or painful teeth
- Ongoing dental care routine at home
🪥How Can You Prevent Dental Disease At Home?
- Brush your pets teeth daily using a soft bristle brush/finger brush and pet specific toothpaste
- Choose a dental diet (we love Hills T/D biscuits which has the same effect as brushing)
- Choose dental treats (we love Hexabones and Whimzees). Remember, at least 2 minutes of chewing is ideal!
- Attend your yearly check up to have the teeth assessed
- Start prevention early, introducing gentle mouth handling and brushing to puppies and kittens
Interested in getting your pets teeth checked or cleaned? Give our nurses a call 📞