Pets lose more teeth because of plaque and gum disease, than from any other cause. Plaque initially appears as a discolouring of the teeth at the gum line, which may then progress to cover the entire tooth, causing pain and inflammation of the gums and commonly tooth root abscesses.
Your pet may only show mild signs of discomfort, such as being a bit more particular with their food. However, sometimes regurgitating amounts of unchewed food may indicate it is more painful for them to chew or crunch. They can also develop bad breath indicating dental disease. These signs may go unnoticed until your pet becomes sick, inappetent or develops a noticeable abscess, by which stage it will need a general anaesthetic and dental treatment which is more costly than prevention!
To prevent dental disease in your pets, allow them to chew on dental chews/products such as Greenies, which we offer instore, and carrots! We also offer Hill’s T/D diet for both canines and felines which works like a toothbrush to help reduce and prevent tartare build up. However, like humans the best prevention is brushing your pet’s teeth daily (with animal safe products) if they’ll let you!
If you notice plaque on your pet’s teeth or would like them to be checked, book a free dental consult with us today!