Dental health is a crucial part of your pet’s overall health. Dental problems can cause, and be caused by, other medical issues.
Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian for early signs of any problems and to keep their mouth healthy.
Learn more about our comprehensive pet dental services at Paws N’ Claws Vet clinics, located in Yishun and Upper Thomson.
Protecting your pet’s teeth and gums
Did you know that more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats who are above 3 years old have some form of dental disease?
Just as we all look after our own teeth and gums to prevent plaque and dental disease, we also have to care for our furkids’ oral health.
Maintaining healthy teeth and gums for your pet is important. If left untreated, dental problems can result in serious medical conditions such as heart, kidney, and liver disease.
Is my dog or cat’s gum disease serious?
Periodontal disease — also known as gum disease — is a term used to describe the infection and associated inflammation of the tissues surrounding the tooth.
Periodontal diseases begin with gingivitis. If left untreated, the infection often spreads deeper into the tooth socket, destroying the bone.
The mouth is home to thousands of bacteria. As these bacteria multiply on the tooth’s surface, they form an invisible layer called plaque and organise into a biofilm. In very simple terms, a biofilm is a collection of bacteria structured in such a way as to be very resistant to removal and difficult for antibiotics to access.
If allowed to remain on the tooth’s surface, plaque thickens and mineralises, resulting in tartar.
Plaque bacteria which come into contact with the gingiva (gums) can result in inflammation (gingivitis).
Gingivitis is always the first stage of periodontal disease — and it is the only truly reversible stage.
What are the signs of gum disease in my pet?
To spot periodontal or gum disease in your dog or cat, here are some signs to look out for:
- Bad breath
- Discoloured teeth
- Loose teeth
- Excessive drooling
- Blood-stained, inflamed gums
- Dropping food from the mouth when eating, or reluctant to chew or eat at all, especially with hard food
- Pain when handled around the head
- Facial swelling
- Behavioural changes, such as lethargy or increased aggression
- Pawing at the mouth
- Receding gums
- Oral discomfort and loss of appetite
- Oral bleeding
How can I care for my dog or cat’s oral health?
The best way to prevent tartar build-up is through daily tooth brushing — using a toothpaste that is specifically formulated for dogs and is designed to be swallowed.
Unfortunately, even though it is the best form of plaque control, most pet owners do not brush their dog or cat’s teeth daily.
Special dog chew toys and treats may also help reduce or delay plaque and tartar build-up. Some pet foods have been specifically formulated as dental diets that mechanically and/or chemically assist in plaque removal. Water additives are also available.
However, once tartar has formed, professional scaling and polishing under general anaesthesia will be needed. This is because tartar cannot easily be removed by diets and/or brushing.
What happens in a routine dental cleaning?
A routine dental cleaning involves a thorough dental examination, followed by a dental scaling and polishing to remove the plaque and tartar from all tooth surfaces.
Your veterinarian will perform pre-anaesthetic blood tests to ensure that the kidney and liver function are satisfactory for anaesthesia. Once your dog or cat is anaesthetised, your veterinarian will thoroughly examine his mouth, noting the alignment of the teeth and the extent of tartar accumulation both above and below the gum line. Intra-oral radiographs (x-rays within the mouth) to assess the viability of the tooth root and surrounding bone should also be performed.
If periodontal disease is severe, it may not be possible to save the affected teeth. Depending on the affected tooth, extraction may be the only option.
What if my pet has a tooth removed?
Where possible, we always try to save teeth. This is because it is in all pets’ best interests to have a full set of teeth.
However, if a tooth is too infected or loose, or will likely become a source of future problems, then the veterinarian may need to remove it. Cats and dogs do very well after teeth have been extracted. In extreme cases, this can mean all of the teeth.
Remember, it is much better to have no tooth and a healthy gum,
than a retained tooth and an ongoing infection.
But not to worry — we are here to help! Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian to check for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.
At Paws N’ Claws, our expert healthcare team is experienced in examining and treating furkids, and providing you with the right advice to reduce the risk of dental disease. We want to ensure they live a happy and healthy life.
We offer dental imaging services and dental procedures including scaling and polishing, to keep your furkid’s oral health in tip-top shape.
Have a question, or wish to book an appointment at Paws N’ Claws? WhatsApp us at 8891 4417 (Upper Thomson) or 8809 0787 (Yishun).
Alternatively, please fill in the form below to send us a query.
