Recent global studies have shown that greater than 80% of dogs and greater than 70% of cats over the age of 3 years have dental disease.
The most common type of dental disease in dogs and cats is periodontal disease. This occurs when food and bacteria from the mouth accumulate on the surfaces of the teeth. Within days this becomes a hard, cement like structure called tartar or calculus. Tartar accumulation leads to gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) and more serious periodontal disease such as loss of the bony tooth sockets and tooth loss. We can also see other dental issues such as fractured teeth or tooth root abscesses.
Dental disease in our pets is a cause of chronic pain and will affect their general health and well-being. It will also give them bad breath and not make their kisses very pleasant!
Dogs and cats can be very good at hiding signs of dental disease and sometimes the only thing you will notice is their stinky breath!
Other signs you may notice include:
If your furry friend is showing any of the signs listed, they are likely to have dental pain.
At Matraville Veterinary Practice we can help you keep your furry friend’s teeth in excellent condition!
As always we try and prevent any issues before they occur. If possible we start dental care on puppies and kittens as soon as they are settled in to your family. Our friendly staff can give advice on tooth brushing, diets that can help to keep the teeth in good condition or special dental chews.
If your dog or cat has tartar accumulation on their teeth, we can provide professional dental cleaning (or scale and polish) which removes visible plaque and tartar on the surfaces of the teeth as well as below the gum line. This procedure is done under a short general anaesthetic using the most up to date veterinary dental equipment.
If more serious dental disease is present we take dental radiographs just as would be done at your own dentist and can plan for necessary dental surgery such as extraction of diseased teeth.
We only perform extraction of teeth when this is necessary for our animal patients but find that most dogs and cats recover very quickly from this procedure. If any extractions are necessary, we ensure pain relief at the time of the procedure and to go home on.
How often should my pet’s teeth be checked?
Routine dental check-ups are essential for your pet’s health and happiness. During any consultation with our vets your furry friend’s teeth will be checked and dental advice given.
At Matraville Veterinary Practice we offer FREE dental checks at any time so come in whenever suits and one of our experienced veterinarians will perform an oral examination and discuss dental prevention or treatment required.
Mon – Fri 7:30 AM – 8 PM
Sat and Sun – 9 AM – 6 PM
Public Holidays – 9 AM – 6 PM
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