There's no getting around this one. If you want your pet to live a healthy life, they need to have a healthy mouth!

There is now plenty of evidence to prove that dental disease is linked to other problems such as heart disease, so it is absolutely essential we keep an eye on your pet's oral health.

Dental disease strikes when plaque and tartar accumulate on the teeth and lead to infection of the gums. Bacteria from this infection can travel in the blood stream around the body and can impact the heart as well other organs such as the lungs and kidneys. 

The good news is that many of these problems can be reversed if dental hygiene is improved - and that's where we come in!

If we detect dental disease we will recommend a dental procedure to help remove the plaque and tartar and resolve any infection. We will also remove any diseased teeth that might be causing your pet significant pain.

Here are our top tips for preventing dental disease:

• Get your pet's mouth checked by us. We will be able to spot problems early - this is essential to good dental care. A check at least once a year is vital.
• Get your pet eating the correct food. A premium quality dry diet is essential for good oral health. There are excellent dental diets available and they really work so ask us for the best recommendation.
• Brush your pet's teeth. This is considered gold standard - just make sure you use a pet-safe toothpaste.

We recommend a dental check up at least once a year. Regular checks will help to protect your pet's overall health and might just save their life!

When it comes to your pet's oral health, you should always turn to us for advice.

It's not uncommon for us to see an older pet with dental disease but many people are worried about their senior pet having to undergo a dental procedure.

In fact, as our pets get older, their immune system becomes less effective at fighting off bacterial and viral diseases so good dental health is more important than ever!

Senior pets may be missing or have worn down teeth and this can affect their ability to chew and digest their food. They are also very good at hiding dental pain and soldiering on, so many owners put changes down to 'getting old.'

The fact is, your senior friend may be in considerable pain and could have issues such as an oral mass or a broken tooth.

Prior to an anaesthetic, we may recommend blood and urine testing to check the overall health of your senior pet and tailor the anaesthetic protocol accordingly.

It's important to realise that veterinary anaesthetics are on par with human anaesthetics and are very safe. This means your pet will be able to undergo necessary treatment to ensure a pain-free mouth and will be able to live a happier and longer life.

Regular dental checks along with a thorough whole body examination at least yearly will help minimise the risk of oral disease in your senior pet.

Please ask us for more information if you are worried about your pet.

This video will have you laughing and gasping all at once! Check out this crazy dog taking a mud bath.