Dentistry

Periodontal disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in our pets, and the most overlooked by owners. If your pet will allow it, open its mouth and take a look for the warning signs of dental disease – bad breath, red and swollen gums, yellow-brown coating on the teeth and pain or bleeding when you touch the gums. If any of these symptoms are present, your pet is suffering from dental disease and you need to book it in for a dental check.

Once your pet has periodontal disease, it requires treatment by a veterinarian. An ultrasonic scale followed by a polish is used to remove the calculus and plaque both on the tooth and below the gum line. This is performed under a general anaesthetic. If there is advanced periodontal disease, the extraction of teeth may be required. The longer periodontal disease is left untreated, the more teeth may need to be removed.

The most effective way to prevent or identify periodontal disease, in its early stages, is through regular dental cleaning under anaesthesia, where the pet’s mouth is thoroughly evaluated and cleaned.