Doing your best to ensure that your dog receives the proper diet and regular brushing at home will help maintain teeth and gums in top condition. To provide optimum dental care at home, you need to start with a clean bill of dental health. That's where our vets and nurses come in. They will give your pet a thorough examination of the entire oral cavity to determine whether there are any underlying problems and, especially important tartar build-up. Brushing removes plaque but not tartar, so if your pet's teeth do have tartar, our vets will have to remove it with a professional clean and polish, usually accomplished under anaesthesia. After the tartar has been removed from above and below the gum line, our veterinary nurses will provide you with instructions for home care and follow-up.
Did you know that eight out of ten cats over the age of three have tooth and gum problems? Just like our own teeth, your cat’s teeth accumulate plaque and if this isn’t kept under control, it can lead to tartar and even periodontal disease. Brushing cat's teeth is an effective way to look after their teeth, and with time and patience, it is possible. However, some cats won’t tolerate tooth brushing and rather than continue to cause your cat stress, we can advise on other products you can use, such as oral hygiene gels or dental diets or chews. We perform a dental examination at the time of every vaccination and will advise if your cat’s teeth need a professional clean.
Rabbits need regular dental checks which should be carried out at the time of vaccination. Overgrown Teeth or Dental Malocclusionis a very common problem encountered by vets and can result rabbits having to be put to sleep if not treated at an early stage. Rabbit’s teeth grow constantly throughout their life and if there is not enough fibre in the diet, or if the teeth are not aligned properly, then they will overgrow. Overgrown teeth become spiked and will start cutting into the side of the mouth and tongue causing mouth infections, ulcers and inability to pick up food and eat it. Typical signs include poor appetite, weight loss, salivation/dribbling and abscesses around the face and jaw. Also eye infections and matted droppings around the tail base may be an indication of dental disease. In some rabbits, malocclusion of the incisor (front) teeth is congenital (present from birth) and these rabbits will need vigorous treatment and possibly tooth removal. Acquired malocclusion occurs in older rabbits and is thought to be primarily diet related. A correct diet is essential to your rabbit’s wellbeing (see section on feeding) and problems occur particularly if your pet is not eating enough fibre in the form of hay, grass and vegetables. Problems can also arise if your rabbit refuses to eat the pelleted part of the dry diet since these contain calcium and phosphorus essential for good bone and tooth growth.