How fresh breath and adorable smiles are achieved :D

 

Are you sick of your pets bad breath? Have they been uninterested in their food recently? Have they been over grooming? Are they not as playful with their toys? Do they move away when you try to pet their face? All of these are signs of oral pain that sometimes go unnoticed. Dental disease is one of the most common diseases in pets affecting more than 80% of dogs and cats over the age of 3. 

 

Imagine we didn't brush our teeth every day, think of all the bacteria and tartar build up we would feel on our teeth. Something as small as a cavity leaves us in a lot of pain. What about having a fractured tooth and not getting a root canal? This pain is equivalent in our pets but they have a much higher pain tolerance due to their survival instinct and only show it when the pain gets unbearable. This is a big reason why regular dental check-ups at the vet is crucial to help detect these abnormalities before they become a serious problem causing our pets pain and discomfort.

 

Dental disease being left untreated leads to many serious complications that can become life threatening. Bacteria from the mouth travels under the gum line and into the blood stream which can affect all major organs such as their heart, liver, and kidneys. It can also cause serious infections leading to tooth root abscesses which causes a lot of pain and swelling around the face. 

 

Don't worry, we are here to help!

Here are ways to prevent dental disease in your fur babies:

 

1)    Daily brushing - this is as important for our pets as it is for us. Watch the videos below to learn how to properly brush your dog and/or cats teeth! 

     How to brush your cats teeth

     How to brush your dogs teeth

 2) Dental food - Putting them on a proper dental diet, such as Hills T/D, to help clean their teeth while they chew is essential, especially for those pets that don't allow brushing. Watch this video to learn about how it works! 

 3) "Mouthwash" - Healthy mouth is a great water additive that acts as a mouth wash to coat the teeth and prevent the accumulation of tartar. 

 4) Yummy Dental Treats - There are a variety of dental treats available to add into their dental care routine. Think of this as their daily floss. Something to keep in mind is to check for a VOHC seal on these products, this means the company has put the time and money into testing their product to confirm it works.

 5) Annual dental cleanings - Just as we go for annual dentist visits our pets need the same professional cleaning yearly. This will help to catch any early signs of dental disease/abnormalities which will possibly prevent future extractions from being needed.

 

We offer no charge dental checks with the RVT's so be sure to book them in. Please contact the clinic for any more information or questions you may have.