Dental Care
Dental disease is one of the most common problems we see in dogs and cats. It can affect over 87% of dogs and 70% of cats over the age of 3! This can be in the form of periodontal disease, tooth fractures, tooth root abscesses and malocclusions.
Dental disease can lead to severe, painful infections, weight loss, and even heart disease if left untreated. Some pets may also have a change in character, such as hiding away or becoming aggressive. It isn't always easy to tell if our pets are suffering from dental disease, and many will hide any signs of oral pain for years.
How do I know if my pet has dental disease?
Dental problems in pets are easiest to treat when acted on early. We advise yearly dental examination checks at Vets on the Common. This can be done at the time of your pet's yearly booster vaccination or you can book a specific appointment to have your pet's teeth assessed, especially if you notice one or more of the below symptoms:
-Bleeding or inflamed gums
-Discolored teeth (brown or yellow)
-Loose or missing teeth
-Bad breath (halitosis)
-Irritability
-Weight loss
-Bloody or “ropey” saliva
-Drop in appetite
-Favouring one side of the mouth when chewing
-Excessive drooling
-Blood in water bowl or on chew toys
At Vets on the Common, we have bespoke veterinary dental machinery and equipment, allowing us to perform in-depth dental assessments, cleaning, and extractions if required.
We perform dental X-rays on our patients, which means we can fully assess the health of every tooth. We can also detect problems involving tooth roots and bone, which may not be visible without dental X-rays.
Will my pet need a general anaesthetic?
All pets requiring dental treatment must be anaesthetised, so that we can properly assess the entire mouth safely and effectively, as well as perform any extractions that might be needed. We also need to protect your pet's airway from fluid and bacteria during the dental, which can only be done under anaesthetic.
Which pets require dental care?
We mostly treat dogs and cats with dental disease. However, pets like rabbits and guinea pigs can also suffer from dental disease, usually when they are not fed a high fibre diet of hay and grass. We can treat dental issues in these pets at our clinic.
Birds and tortoises, who do not have teeth, can still suffer from overgrown beaks. These issues can easily treated by performing "beak trims".