Prevention of Dental disease in cats and dogs
Prevention of Periodontal Disease in Cats and Dogs
What is Periodontal Disease?
Periodontal Disease is one of the most common problems that our vet’s see in both dogs and cats. If left untreated, the disease can cause major health issues and reduce quality of life for our furry friends. It can cause major pain and discomfort and cause serious infections in the kidney’s, heart, and liver. Luckily, periodontal disease is reversible in the early stages, and can be avoided all together with good dental care at home.
What are some signs of Periodontal Disease?
Decreased appetite
Unwillingness to eat hard food
Drooling
Bad breath
Plaque or tartar build-up on teeth
Swollen, red or bleeding gums
Missing or broken teeth
Weight loss
Pawing at mouth
How can Periodontal Disease be prevented?
Unfortunately, we cannot prevent dental disease from occurring, but we can reduce and minimise the severity of it. This can be done at home with several ways that best suit your pet with as minimal stress as possible.
1. Brushing your pet’s teeth - The number one recommended prevention of plaque built up is to brush your pets’ teeth. It is best to brush the teeth once daily with a pet appropriate brush and dental paste. Research has shown that brushing the teeth every second day reduces effectiveness by 60%.
Different types of brushes can be used, including rubber or material finger brushes or soft bristle pet-friendly toothbrushes. Dental pastes that are made specifically for pets can be used – we recommend Petosan or Oxyfresh. Never use human grade toothpastes as this can be toxic for animals.
To learn how to brush your pets’ teeth at home, follow the link here: https://vtck.it/v3/19c9d3f1d9
2. Dental treats – Dental treats such as Greenies, Prozym or Whimzee’s are a simple way to assist in your pet’s dental health care. Dental treats can be tough to chew, so please only give to animals over 6 - 12 months of age so they have full development of their adult teeth and jaw structure.
3. Dental water additives – Oxyfresh water additive is simple – just a capful of the solution in one litre of water will assist in keeping gums and teeth healthy and can be given to both cats and dogs.
4. Dental food – Dental diets are formulated to both remove and prevent plaque and tartar build up and freshen breath. The kibble is created to be a larger sized biscuit to ensure they are getting a good crunch! We recommend Hills T/D or Royal Canin Dental for cats and dogs as a 100% balanced diet.
What can I do if I notice Periodontal Disease?
If you are seeing any of the signs or plaque and tartar build-up on your pet’s teeth, it is best to bring them in for a check-up. At Thornbury Vet we offer FREE dental checks with our professional Veterinary Nurses, who can grade the teeth and give advice on what the best next step is for your pet. If dental homecare is no longer an option, we may recommend a dental scale and polish and/or possible extractions of any diseased, painful teeth. We recommend 6 monthly checks to ensure we maintain the best possible healthcare for your pet.
If you would like to make a booking or for more information, please call us on 9480 1333 during open hours.
