Three signs your pet may have dental disease

Dental disease is one of the most common conditions we see in veterinary practice. The problem is, it’s an insidious disease and pet owners often don’t even realise their pet has an issue until we point it out.

The earlier we detect dental disease, the better. In many cases, we can adjust your pet’s diet to encourage better chewing and even get you to brush your pet’s teeth to help slow the progression of the disease. Sometimes the disease is too far advanced and a dental procedure under an anaesthetic is the only option to treat the condition.

The sneaky nature of dental disease is another reason why regular (at least yearly) health checks with us are essential, as a lot can change in your pet’s mouth in a very short time. We also recommend that you regularly ‘flip your pet’s lip’ and look out for these three signs:

Bad breath: the build-up of tartar on the teeth, and subsequent inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) can cause “doggy breath”. This isn’t normal. If you notice an odour coming from your pet’s mouth you should arrange a checkup with us asap.

Yellowing of the teeth: this can be an indication of tartar build up or enamel changes. It can indicate your pet is not chewing well enough to clean their teeth, and can also be a sign of an underlying painful area in the mouth.

Red gums or bleeding around the teeth: inflammation and infection of the gums can be painful and really affect your pet’s quality of life.

If you think your pet may have a dental problem, or if it’s been a while since your pet’s last dental checkup please call us and arrange an appointment.