Dental Care

It is extremely important to care for your pet's teeth. Periodontal disease is the most common health problem of adult dogs and cats also have a high prevalence of dental disease.

Causes of dental disease:

Dental disease happens as animals’ age due to the build up of plaque, tartar and bacteria on the teeth and around the gums. As a result the gums become inflamed (known as gingivitis). If this process is left unchecked infection can begin to destroy the gums as well as the tissue and bone that support the teeth. Bacterial infection can also travel from the mouth to other major organs in the body such as the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys causing infections, which can compromise the health of your pet.

Treament:

Once there is significant tartar build up and gingivitis, the only way to treat the mouth is to perform a professional clean under general anaesthetic. If it is done early enough, this can just require a routine scale and polish. If the dental disease is severe, this can require removal of affected teeth.

Prevention is always better than cure:

Feeding your dog or cat Hill's Prescription Diet t/d, brushing weekly and using dental treats is a good way of keeping plaque off your pet's teeth. Removing plaque stops it from turning into tartar. The build up of tartar can lead to periodontal disease. Untreated periodontal disease causes the gum to recede.