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August is the month we shine the torch on teeth and our patients' dental hygiene. (This is important all year and is something we look at each time we examine an animal for their annual health check.)

Does your dog have sweet smelling breath? Doggy breath is not normal or healthy!

A number of articles in this newsletter explain why dental hygiene is important for our pets, what you need to look out for and what you can do to ensure your pet has good dental hygiene. 

We are offering free dental checks for all pets during August and special rates during this month for any dental procedures that our vet recommends.

All pets booked in for a free dental check during August will also receive a gift of a delicious Greenie Dental treat - specially designed to help provide teeth cleaning, fresh breath and healthy gums. Call us - 63618388 - to get your free dental check. 

pearly whites

one of our patients showing shiny clean teeth after her dental procedure - can your dog boast a smile like this?

Contents of this newsletter

01  Spring Open Day - watch this space..

02  Don't turn away from bad breath

03  Dental care at home

04  The ins and outs of a dental procedure

05  OMG! My dog has warts

06  Are Kangaroos really left handed?

01 Spring Open Day - watch this space..
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OVH in recent winter clothing

We are planning an OVH Open Day for clients in spring - date yet to be confirmed but will be on a weekend - to invite you all to view and enjoy our recently renovated changes. 

We will keep you posted on the date!

02 Don't turn away from bad breath
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Does your pet have dreaded doggy breath? Don’t turn away as bad breath can kill. Bad breath is generally caused by dental disease, a sneaky condition that likes to hide in your pet's mouth. Up to 80% of our pets might be suffering from this nasty disease and it is one of the most common problems we come across.

If your pet isn’t having to work very hard to chew their food, plaque and tartar build up around the teeth leading to irritation of the gum and an inflammatory condition called gingivitis. Eventually the gum separates from the tooth allowing small pockets of bacteria to accumulate. This bacteria can travel around your pet’s body, affecting the overall health of your pet.

You should not ignore this disease as it is very painful and can impact the kidneys, heart and liver. 

Signs of dental disease might include:

• Bad breath (also known as 'doggy breath')
• Drooling from the mouth or poking the tongue out
• Bleeding from the mouth
• A loss of appetite or weight loss

Sometimes the signs are subtle and you may not notice anything at all. This is just another reason why regular check ups with us are important as during a routine examination we will always examine your pet's mouth.

If we diagnose dental disease early enough, we can implement a dental disease treatment plan and prevent further damage to your pet's teeth, giving you and your pet something to smile about!

03 Dental care at home
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This is a very common question and thankfully we have lots of tools up our sleeve.

Here’s our top tips:

Get your pet chewing!

Every mouthful your pet takes should be hard work! Think of what our pets would eat in the wild – chewy, sinewy food that requires ripping, tearing and crunching. This is the natural way and best way to clean the teeth.

We have excellent dry food diets available that are actually designed to clean the tooth as your pet chews. We can also advise you on the best chews and treats available when it comes to dental care. Not every chew on the market is entirely safe for your pet so it’s best to ask us for guidance.

Brush those pearly whites

Believe it or not, this is considered gold standard in home care. We have tooth brushes that enable you to get into the hard to reach places. We are also happy to demonstrate brushing with your pet. Keep in mind that it can take a few months for your pet to get used to the idea. Daily brushing is recommended (in an ideal world) however a couple of times a week is better than no brushing at all! If you are using a dental paste make sure it is safe for pets (human toothpaste is toxic)  You can watch this video for more information.

04 The ins and outs of a dental procedure
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A general anaesthetic is required to clean your pet's teeth correctly

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You'll be more inclined to kiss your pet if they have a healthy mouth!

If we have diagnosed your pet with dental disease we will most likely recommend a dental clean.This is a very common procedure and is essential in treating dental disease. If your pet is having a dental procedure there’s a few things you need to know:

A general anaesthetic is required

We can't ask our pets to say “open wide" while we have a look around. To make sure we are able to clean all the teeth and do it safely (we don’t want to be bitten!), a general anaesthetic is required. Your pet must be anaesthetised so we can properly examine the entire tooth. This includes the inner surface and all of the teeth right up the back to the mouth that you can’t see when your pet is awake. 

We use very similar equipment to human dentists

In some cases this is the exact same equipment! 
A scaling device is used to remove any plaque that is stuck to the teeth and the teeth are individually polished. We may recommend x-rays so we can assess the bony structures around the tooth. This provides your pet with gold standard dental care.

Extractions may be necessary

In some cases, bacteria may have already damaged the structures of the tooth, exposing roots and nerves. This is painful so it is best we remove any diseased teeth. A fractured tooth may also require extraction. Antibiotics, pain relief and a diet of soft and chunky food may be needed until the extraction sites have healed.

As involved as it may sound, a dental procedure will ensure your pet is happier, healthier and most importantly, pain free.

We are always happy to answer any questions you have about your pet's dental procedure. 

05 OMG! My dog has warts
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A wart on the tongue of a dog

Did you know that your dog can return home from the park with more than just a wagging tail...? Your dog can catch warts! There’s no need to worry but it’s best to read on for all the information.

While wart-like lumps can occur due to a number of reasons, true warts are caused by the oral papilloma virus. The virus is spread through direct contact with an infected dog or via contact with a shared ball, water bowl or frisbee. The virus enters through a break in the skin and in a couple of months, warts can pop up on the lips, gums, tongue and roof of the mouth or in the throat. In some cases the warts end up growing on top of one another creating cauliflower like lesions (yuk!).

Dogs with an immature immune system (generally under two years of age), are most likely to be infected, but the virus can occasionally affect older dogs (often those with compromised immune systems). 

The good news is that most warts will disappear without any treatment. In some cases they can bleed or become infected and may require a course of antibiotics. Occasionally, warts can interfere with chewing or swallowing and require surgical removal. Very rarely they may develop into cancerous growths.

Warts tend to look worse than they actually are and once your dog has immunity against the virus, it is unlikely that he will succumb to infection again.

If you ever notice anything unusual in your pet’s mouth we recommend an examination with us.

06 Are Kangaroos really left handed?
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In the first of its kind of research, it’s been discovered that most Kangaroos are left handed!

It’s the first time that ‘handedness’ has been demonstrated in a species other than humans (who are mostly right handed).

The evidence comes from hours spent observing multiple species in the wild. It was discovered that most wild kangaroos tend to favour their left hands during common tasks like grooming and feeding.  You can read more here.

Have you ever considered if your pet is left or right ‘pawed’? Consider the following:

• If you teach your dog to shake, which paw does he offer you first and most often?

• Fill a toy with something delicious and put it in front of your dog. Which paw does he use to touch the toy first?

• Put something sticky on your dog or cat's nose. Which paw does he use to remove it?

• Place a treat or a piece of cheese under a couch, just beyond reach. Which paw does he use to try and get it out?

• Dangle a toy over your cat's head. Which paw does he lift to bat it?