Dental care - your pet's teeth and gums

Just as you look after your teeth to prevent plaque and dental disease, you also have to care for your pet's teeth too. Maintaining healthy gums is important. This is the starting point of any dental program. The gums protect the underlying tissues and bone that anchor and support the teeth in your pet's mouth.

An important part of a dental care program for your pet is regular at home examinations. Just a few minutes on a regular basis could help keep your pet pain-free and also catch any signs of dental disease before they become a problem.

Over 85% of dogs and cats over 4 years old have some form of periodontal (dental) disease. Dental disease causes bad breath (halitosis) and pain, it is also a source of infection and can make your pet seriously ill.

For some pet’s a prescription dental diet such as Hills t/d may be recommended to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy and clean. Ever wondered how they work and what you can do to get the most out of your pet’s dental diet? Here’s some information and tips so you can achieve the best results.

Harry is a 2 year old domestic short hair who visited us for his booster vaccinations. During a routine physical examination our veterinarian noticed plaque on Harry's teeth and inflamed gums. Harry was suffering with bad gingivitis and plaque, that left untreated would only worsen. Over time he would eventually develop cavities in the teeth, gingival recession, and loose teeth.. oh and it would probably be pretty painful too.