Pet Dental Disease

What is Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats?

Dental disease is a condition that affects the teeth and gums of dogs and cats. It is caused by the accumulation of plaque and tartar on the teeth, which can lead to inflammation of the gums (gingivitis) and infection of the teeth and surrounding tissues. Over time, dental disease can cause tooth loss, bone loss, and even systemic infections that can affect other organs in the body.

Dental disease in our dogs and cats is the number one condition we see on a day-to-day basis. Just like us, our pets commonly get gum disease and teeth problems. It may seem surprising that up to 80% of dogs and 70% of cats are affected by dental problems by the age of 3 years old.

Our Dental Care Services

At The Village Vet, we offer a range of dental care services to keep your pets' teeth and gums healthy. Our services include:

Dental exams and scale & polishes
Dental X-rays
Extractions
Oral surgery
Treatment of periodontal disease
Home dental care instructions

We use state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to ensure that your pets receive the best possible care.

Vet examining dog's teeth looking for dental disease

The most common form of dental disease we see is periodontal disease. This is different to humans - we get cavities, or holes in our teeth. Dogs and cats develop inflammation of the periodontium. There are 4 parts of this disease, the periodontal ligament holds the tooth to the bone, alveolar bone is the main bone surrounding the tooth, gingiva (gums) and the cementum which covers the tooth roots.

Common signs that we look for in dental disease is:

- halitosis or bad breath

- gingivitis, inflammed gums

- gum recession, slowly exposing the start of the tooth roots

- pain

It is a myth that our pets will stop eating if they have dental disease - they do not. Dogs and cats have to eat, they prioritise eating and every day we see significant dental changes with no change in appetite.

At each consultation with our vets your pet will have their teeth graded. Please ask when you visit us and we will let you know which grade your pet has been given. Please see below for an explanation of the dental gradings.

Dental grade 0 = great teeth, no issues.

Dental grade 1 = tartar build up and inflammation.

Dental grade 2 = as above, with gingival recession, significant inflammation (teeth will bleed when probed under anaesthetic).

Dental grade 3 = one single rooted tooth needs extraction.

Dental grade 4 = multiple teeth needing extractions.

Keeping your pets teeth healthy will stop bacteria from dental disease moving through the blood stream and causing detrimental heart and kidney infections. This can cause severe illness and shorten your pet's life.

What if my pet has dental disease?

Oral Exam

Firstly, you should have your pet's teeth examined by one of our veterinarians on a regular basis and if necessary, follow up with a professional dental clean. Your pet needs to be anaesthetised to carry out a thorough dental examination, and to clean all teeth without distressing them. Once anaesthetised, a complete dental examination is carried out.

This process involves charting all present teeth and evaluating their condition, including the degree of tartar, gingivitis (gum inflammation) and any pockets in the gums around the teeth.

How to brush a dog's teeth with a toothbrush

Scale & Polish:

Your vet will perform a scale and polish on your pets teeth. This involves the use of a ultrasonic scaler to remove the tartar and calculus from each tooth. The scaler goes under the gumline as well to perform a deep clean. A polisher is used afterwards and special dental prophy paste helps to smooth the tooth's surface.

Scaling and polishing a cat's teeth under anaesthetic

Oral Surgery:

If a tooth has a large fracture, is loose or has significant bone loss then the tooth will need to be extracted. The periodontal ligament which holds the tooth in is 4x stronger than a human's ligament. Due to this, we need to perform oral surgery, creating a gum flap and sectioning multi-rooted teeth to remove each root individually. We use absorbable sutures to close over any extraction sites.

Your pet will usually be able to go home on the same day. Make sure you feed soft food for the first 3-5 days after surgery.

A dental recheck is usually recommended 5-7 days after dental oral surgery. This allows us to check the gingiva (gums) are healing well and there are no signs of infection. We will discuss ongoing home care at this stage wtih you, including teeth brushing, dental chews and dental diet. A 6 monthly dental health check is usually recommended to continue to monitor your dog or cat's dental hygiene.

What about cats?

Cats get a special disease in their teeth called feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions or ORLs for short. This is a disease complex whereby the cat's body starts resorbing its own teeth. Approximately 20-60% of cats will be affected by this disease and it is extremely painful. Once your cat has one affected tooth, it is more likely to develop more in the future. Dental x-rays can help the vet determine if your cats teeth are affected and whether extractions are required.

How can I reduce my pets ongoing dental disease?

Ideally dental home care starts from a young age. Starting with a puppy introduce teeth brushing and chews Ask us how to do this, and we'll give you a demonstration.

Teeth Brushing

Did you know that teeth brushing every day is the best way to keep your pet's dental hygiene in tip-top condition? We stock special pet toothpaste (chicken and beef flavoured of course!) and finger brushes for you to start brushing your pet's teeth. Please note human toothpaste has fluoride and can be toxic to your pet.

Dental Chews & Toys

We recommend a variety of dental toys, enzymatic oral chews and special dental kibble. These are to be used in conjunction with teeth brushing. Brands we suggest you try include Kong's, rope toys, Greenies and OraVet chews.

Dental Diets

We encourage the use of Royal Canine Dental dry food to help reduce the amount of tartar and calculus on your pets teeth. The dental food texture mimics teeth brushing by rubbing along the tooth surface. It also helps to bind to the teeth's calcium to help prevent plaque from building up.