Importance of Dental Care for Cats and Dogs

Yearly dental cleanings and check-ups for our pets are as much important, as important are for the people. At Al Barsha Veterinary Clinic, we know that pets most of the time don’t receive proper dental care, and as a result, approximately 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have periodontal disease as soon as they are three years old. For that reason, it is important for pet owners to understand the need for proper dental care for dogs and dental care for cats, and at Al Barsha Veterinary Clinic we can give you all the information you need so to provide for your lovely pets.

Periodontal disease is caused by the build-up of bacteria in the mouth, which form a biofilm on the teeth. This biofilm is called plaque. When the bacteria die, they can be mineralized by calcium and create a calcified plaque called tartar. If tartar is left untreated can lead to gingivitis, infection of the root of the tooth, and finally periodontal disease. Eventually, the tissues around the tooth are destroyed and the tooth is becoming loose. Broken teeth are another common problem that we often see at veterinary clinics. Chewing bones, hard toys, and treats can break your pet’s teeth. A broken tooth means that sometimes the tooth nerve is exposed and that could be very painful for your pet. Nerves can also become infected making things worse for your pet. At this stage, the extraction of the tooth is necessary. Ongoing disease in the oral cavity will give a foul smell which makes having the pet around you unpleasant.

VETERINARY DENTAL CLEANING 

Veterinary dental cleaning is a procedure that requires general anaesthesia. This is necessary to protect both your pet and the veterinarian. The veterinarian will remove the plaque and the tartar from your pet’s teeth with special dental tools. When the scaling (the procedure of tartar removal) is completed, the veterinarian will use a polishing paste that smooths out any scratches on the teeth and leaves them clean and fresh. A full inspection of the oral cavity can now be done to ensure any changes or suspicious developments are timely noticed and recorded. Dental x-rays can also be performed and that will give the opportunity for the vet to check your pet’s teeth and roots setting in the bone of the jaws and possible ongoing processes, fractures, or other which not always can be visualized without X-rays.