Dental Health
Dental health is a very important part of your pet’s overall health, and dental problems can cause, or be caused by, other health problems. Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream in a diseased mouth and cause many problems in the rest of the body. For instance cardiac disease, renal disease, hepatic disease. So prevention and detection of dental disease is very important to keep your pet healthy.
Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian for early signs of problems and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.
In our dental month in February you can have your pet’s dental health assessed by our vets.
What could be a sign of dental disease?
- Bad breath
- Broken or loose teeth
- Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- Teeth that are discoloured or covered in tartar
- Abnormal chewing (on only one side for instance), drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Pain in or around the mouth
- Bleeding from the mouth, salivation
- Swelling in the areas surrounding the mouth
Some pets become irritable when they have dental problems, and any changes in your pet’s behaviour should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. Always be careful when evaluating your pet’s mouth yourself, because a painful animal may bite.
Written by Dr Dymphna
