Did you know that continuous dental care is an important part of your pet's health and wellbeing? 85% of dogs and cats over the age of 6 have Dental Disease. Unfortunately, a pets oral hygiene quiet often get overlooked, but it is something that is an essential for their continuous healthcare program.
Periodontal disease affects the gums around each tooth. In a healthy mouth, the teeth are clean and white and the gums are pink colour. In a mouth with periodontal disease there is redness around each tooth and build-up of plaque and calculus on the teeth. If not removed, the plaque mineralizes into calculus, creating more inflammation and destroying the health of the tooth. The bacteria resulting from the plaque and calculus can move to other areas of the body leading to infection in the heart, liver, kidney or other areas that the bloodstream carries them to.
There are different options available to aid in your pet’s oral health:
- A scale and polish can make a BIG difference in your pet's life. This will remove all plaque and calculus. A scale and polish is done by your veterinarian under general anaesthetic to ensure a very thorough clean. Once your pet has had a scale and polish you can begin some at home oral hygiene practices to reduce the build-up of plaque in the future.
- Brushing twice a week can remove most plaque before it is able to mineralize into calculus. You can purchase special finger brushes or pet brushes to use, as well as ‘pet’ toothpaste which is usually beef or chicken flavoured. Never use human toothpaste, as it is not able to be swallowed in large quantities.
- Dental treats are another great option to help keep your pets teeth and gums clean and healthy. Chewing a proper dental chew daily can substantially reduce plaque and calculus build up by 69%. Ensure that the size of the dental chew is correct for your dog.
- Dental diets have large kibbles ensuring your dog chews them before swallowing. They are also high in fibre to allow the tooth to sink in to the kibble and be scrubbed clean.
- It also helps to become comfortable for you and your pet to be able to look into their mouth, practice lifting the lip to look at their teeth, open the mouth and look at the inside of their teeth and tongue. This will help them become more comfortable for the vet when they come in for their regular check-ups.
For more information on dental disease, check out our website here https://www.maraboonvet.com.au/dental-disease.
At Maraboon Vet Surgery, we offer FREE dental health checks on cats or dogs. If you would like to book in and find out about your pet's oral health, call the clinic on 0749 876 800 or Book Online at www.maraboonvet.com.au