Dental Care For Your Cat Or Dog

Dogs & Cats need dental care too!

Unfortunately, dental hygiene for dogs and cats is sometimes overlooked. Many people seem to just expect them to have bad breath, and few people brush their dogs’ teeth frequently enough. Dental hygiene is just as important to your pet’s overall heath as things like nutrition, proper exercise and routine grooming. Help keep their teeth healthy – pay attention to those pearly whites!

Some of the signs of dental disease that you could look out for:

• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Reluctance to chew / crying out when chewing
• Increased salivation
• Red and/or puffy gums
• Bleeding gums
• Tartar / Calculus (hard coating on teeth that is usually brown or yellow; results from plaque build-up)
• Missing and/or loose teeth
• Anything else about the mouth that appears unusual

There are several options for preventing dental disease:

• Prescription tooth diets
• Tooth brushing daily with enzymatic tooth paste
• Dental chews and toys
• Large raw bones

Grades Of Dental Disease

• 
• Grade 1 - perfect teeth - our goal
• No tartar
• No gum inflammation
• No gum recession

• Grade 2 - early disease but reversible at home
• Any tartar to mild tartar (photo max tartar for grade 2)
• No gum inflammation
• No gum recession
• If no improvement within 4 months - needs a professional clean

• Grade 3 - early disease but reversible with professional scale & polish
• Moderate tartar
• Gum inflammation
• No gum recession
• Needs a dental

• Grade 4 - moderate disease with some periodontal disease
• Periodontal disease is not reversible, but can be minimized
• Moderate tartar
• Gum inflammation
• Gum recession
• Periodontal disease with early pocket formation
• Possible extractions required

• Grade 5 - severe disease with advanced periodontal disease
• Severe tartar
• Severe gum recession
• Advanced periodontal disease - increasing risk of systemic disease (heart, liver, kidney)
• Many extractions necessary!

Contact the clinic to arrange a free dental examination with one of our nurses.