Dental Prevention
There are many products designed to help combat dental disease in cats and dogs. These prevention tools can be used either individually or in combination with other products to enhance your pet's dental health and to prevent periodontal disease.
Brushing
This is the gold standard of dental prevention. It is recommended to brush your pet's teeth at least 3 times per week. It is important to start brushing as soon as you get your new puppy/kitten to better desensitize them to brushing, as pets can sometimes be difficult when it comes to brushing teeth.
Dental Diets
Dental diets are designed to help break away plaque and to prevent the build up of tartar on your pet's teeth. The size of these kibbles is significantly larger than regular pet food, and is made up of fibres that wrap around the tooth and gently cleans the surface while your pet is chewing.
Dental Treats
Dental treats/chews are a fun and positive way to introduce dental prevention into your pet's routine. Much like dental diets, they are designed to break away plaque and tartar. Some of these treats even contain enzymes or antibacterial properties to help combat and control the bacterial population in your pet's mouth, which helps fight bad breath.
Additives
Whether it be food or water additives, both can be effective at preventing plaque accumulation and help freshen your pet's breath. Similarly to dental treats, most additives contain enzymes that, when in contact with saliva, cause a chemical reaction that helps break down the plaque accumulated onto your pet's teeth. They also contain antibacterial properties that help lower the bacteria population and slow down the formation of plaque and tartar.
Signs of Dental Disease
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Inflamed or bleeding gums
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Discoloured teeth
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Bad breath
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Loose or missing teeth
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Excessive drooling
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Painful/favouring one side of mouth when eating
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Loss of appetite
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Weight loss
Dentistry
Who can benefit form a dental cleaning?
Even with the help of all the dental health prevention tools available, some pets still require professional dental cleanings.
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Before scheduling a dental procedure, your pet will require a dental exam with one of our vets. This will not only allow us to provide you with the best estimate of cost, but also allow us to start any medication before the procedure, such as antibiotics if required. Some pets with severe dental disease or dental abscesses will benefit from a course of antibiotics shortly before the procedure, to lower the bacteria population in the mouth and minimize the risk of complications during or after the surgery.
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A large portion of our dental patients are senior patients. Extra precautions are taken when dealing with older patients, such as mandatory bloodwork to ensure there are no underlying problems that could put your pet at higher risk while under anesthesia. Once the bloodwork results are reviewed, the veterinarian decides which drug protocol is best for your pet, or if the procedure should be postponed while we treat any underlying illnesses until it is safer to proceed. Additionally, as with any other procedure requiring anesthesia, a certified technician will be monitoring your pet at all times when undergoing a dental cleaning.
