Dental disease is one of the most common problems we see in veterinary practice. While a regular check-up with us will help to identify any dental issues your pet might be hiding, there are a few things you can look out for at home:

Signs of dental disease in dogs and cats:

• Bad breath
• Yellowing or brown stains on the teeth
• Redness of the gums around the teeth
• Ropey saliva or bleeding gums
• A loss of appetite or weight loss

What causes dental disease?

When particles of food and bacteria accumulate along the gum line, they combine with saliva to form plaque. If over time, this plaque is allowed to build up, there will be a subsequent accumulation of tartar and bacteria. The presence of this tartar and bacteria leads to inflammation around the gum line, a condition known as gingivitis.

As dental disease progresses, there is a separation of the gum from the teeth and pockets of bacteria form. Once this happens, your pet will be suffering from irreversible bone loss, tissue destruction and wobbly, rotten teeth. These changes can be severely painful and can significantly affect your pet's quality of life.

What to do if you think your pet has dental disease

You should not ignore this disease. Dental disease is painful and can impact the overall health of your pet as the bacteria enter the bloodstream and make their way around your pet's body.

If we diagnose the dental disease early enough, we can implement a treatment plan and slow the progression of this condition. Correct management of dental disease means your pet will lead a happier and healthier life and, in most cases, will be less likely to need major dental procedures during their life.

We strongly recommend getting your pet in for a dental check-up if you haven't done so in the past 12 months.

Dental care for your pet starts at home, but there is not one magical tool we have to help guarantee a perfectly healthy mouth. Dental disease prevention needs to be a multi-targeted approach, and we aim to give your pet a chance at avoiding a dental procedure.

Breed, oral anatomy, diet and age have a significant impact on dental disease and sometimes, even with all the best dental prevention measures in place, your pet may still need a dental procedure at some point in their life. An excellent example of this is a dog who has perfectly clean teeth but fractures a tooth chewing on a bone! If we do not remove the fractured tooth, exposure of the nerves can be painful and lead to other issues, such as a tooth root abscess.

Did you know that brushing is best?

Brushing your pet's teeth is considered gold standard in-home care. 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 toothpaste, make sure it is pet-friendly (human toothpaste is toxic to pets).

We will show you how best to brush your pet's teeth - ask us for a demonstration.

Make every mouthful count

Every mouthful your pet takes should be hard work, and we have excellent dental diets available 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 advice.

We will give you the best advice when it comes to dental disease prevention in your pet - ask us for more information.

Many people find bringing their cat in to the vet a stressful experience and, as a result, will put off the exercise altogether. It is for this reason that we don't get to see your feline friend as often as we should and, unfortunately, it means that many health problems may go undetected.

Thankfully, there are a couple of ways we can help reduce the stress associated with vet visits:

1. Feliway pheromone spray can be used in the cat carrier to help your cat to feel more safe and secure. The pheromone spray is the same pheromone cats release when they feel happy and relaxed. We also recommend you spray it on a towel and use this to cover the cat carrier. This may help your cat feel safe and avoid them making eye contact with patients of the canine variety.
2. Medication can be dispensed to help your cat feel more relaxed prior to their visit. We just need to have examined your cat within the previous six months - ask us for more information on how we can assist you with this. It is important to have a trial run at home at least 3 days prior to the visit to ensure the correct dose of medication.

Other tips to reduce cat carrier stress:

• Put the cat carrier in a room with your cat a few days before you need to use it
• Allow your cat to get used to the smell and noise of the carrier
• Associate the carrier with ‘happy’ things - place food and treats in the carrier
• Close the door of the carrier while your cat is inside for short periods of time so your cat doesn’t always associate it with vet visits

If you have any questions or concerns about your cat's veterinary visit you should ask us for advice.

Remember: all cats should be secured in a cat carrier when travelling in the car, not just for their safety but also yours.