The Importance of Keeping Your Pet's Mouth Clean

Signs of Dental Disease in Dogs or Cats and Preventative Measures

Apr 18, 2009

Keeping your dog or cat's teeth healthy is an important part of pet care. Dogs and cats can suffer from dental disease, which can lead to other problems.

Tooth decay can be common in dogs and cats as tartar can build up if not removed by chewing on raw bones or chew toys, or if fed a poor diet. Monitoring your pet’s teeth and mouth is crucial, as a neglected mouth, can become a hotbed of pus and bacteria and make for a miserable pet.

If your pet develops dental disease, bacteria can result causing pain and discomfort. In serious cases, pus pockets can form along the gums which creates a gap between the gum and teeth, meaning more food can become lodged there exacerbating the problem.

Gingivitis can also occur, which is red and inflamed gums, causing your pet pain, which could lead him or her to not eating, or not eating properly. This can lead to tooth loss and if severe, bacteria can be absorbed by the body causing liver, lung, heart or kidney disease.

How Can I Tell if My Dog or Cat has Dental Disease?

You may notice one or several of these symptoms:

Bad breath
Reluctance to eat
Red gums/swollen gums
Yellow or brown build up on teeth (especially molars)
Loose teeth/missing teeth
Receding gums

What Should I Do if I Suspect My Dog or Cat has Dental Disease?

You should consult your veterinarian and make an appointment for a check up. If there is sufficient tartar/plaque on the teeth, your pet may need to have dental surgery. Dental surgery involves scaling the teeth with an ultrasonic scaler and polishing the teeth at the end to prevent further tartar/plaque from forming. Your vet may need to remove some of the teeth. Dental surgery is performed under a general anaesthetic. If your concerned about your pet, pre-anaesthetic blood profiles (blood test) can be taken so the staff is aware of any problems and can provide appropriate sedatives, anaesthetic and any other precautions (eg: a drip).

What Can I Do to Prevent My Dog or Cat Getting Dental Disease?

Feed raw bones (dogs should never be fed cooked bones. If dogs swallow cooked bones, they can cause vomiting or diarrhea, or the bones may splinter and puncture the gut, or a swallowed bone can cause a bowel obstruction)
Cats can be fed chicken necks
Feed dogs rawhide chews, pigs’ ears or other dental treats
Give your dog chew toys. Specific dental chew toys are also available
There are some specifically designed pet foods to assist with tartar removal. These are often prescription diets, so ask your vet for information
Brushing your pet’s teeth. A tricky one if your pet isn’t accustomed to this. There are finger brushes and meaty tasting pet toothpaste available, or you could use your finger to smear pet toothpaste on the teeth
Annual check ups. When you’re pet goes for their annual vaccinations make sure your vet checks out his or her mouth. Early detection could mean avoiding a much more serious problem later.

Remember, your pet’s health is your responsibility. Make sure to feed a good quality diet form a young age and provide raw bones and chews on a regular basis (at least twice a week).