We see our fair share of dental problems here at Dr Kens Vet Clinic and to be honest I would rather work on preventing dental problems in the first place. Dogs, cats, rabbits and all pets in general are very brave and don’t complain or let you know that they are experiencing dental or gum pain.
Periodontal Disease
The most prevalent form of dental disease in pets is the formation of plaque (hard mineral and bacteria accumulations on the tooth gum line) this leads to inflamed and infected gums. This is called Gingivitis. In advanced stages this leads to tooth decay and ultimately tooth loss.
What are the signs of Dental Disease?
- Refusal to eat hard foods
- Bad breath
- Soreness around the mouth if touched
- Bleeding Gums
- Tooth Loss
- Severe gum or tooth infections can lead to Kidney and Heart problems as well
Sometimes the early signs of Periodontal Disease will go unnoticed until it is advanced and the Vet needs to intervene by dental scaling (available at Dr Kens Vet Clinic) using an ultrasonic scaler and or pulling affected teeth.
At time of your yearly check-up and vaccination the vet will also assess your pet’s teeth to help prevent formation of severe conditions.
HOW DOES ONE PREVENT DENTAL DISEASE?
What causes the formation of plaque and why is it so common in House Pets? The answer is DIET. The answer is “feed harder food” right from the beginning so that they don’t get used to eating only soft food. Once the gums are sore it’s harder to get them to eat the right foods. (See also our section on getting the right start for your new Puppy or Kitten).
If you would like to book an appointment or if you have any questions please feel free to call Mel, Ken or Shannon on 08 82816400 at Dr Kens Vet Clinic in Para Hills West SA.