Common symptoms we see include

• Yellow or brown tartar accumulation around the gum line and on the tooth

• Red, inflamed gums

• Bad breath

• Changes in appetite or eating habits

• Pawing or rubbing their face

• Signs of pain

• Bleeding from the gums

The first step is to organise a dental check with our team – in this consultation your pets teeth are examined and a dental grade determined. Based on this grade an individualised treatment plan will be created. Most animals benefit from a scale and polish procedure (same as what we get at the dentist) but, because they won’t sit still, this is done under a general anaesthetic. Once asleep, a full mouth examination is performed and each tooth assessed. Some teeth may need to be removed and often this cant be determined until your pet is asleep. We also have access to state-of-the-art dental x-rays – this allows us to ensure any pathology under the gums is able to be assessed and treated.

All pets undergoing dental procedures are placed on an intravenous fluid drip to help them maintain their blood pressure and smooth out the anaesthetic and recovery period. Pre-anaesthetic bloodwork is also performed to ensure their internal organs are healthy and can metabolise the medications used.

Once your pets teeth are back to being perfectly healthy, then it is time to develop a long-term preventative care plan. We can help personalise this for you and your pet. At home care can include

• Daily tooth brushing – just like us!

• Tooth friendly chews and toys

• Dental prescription diets – like the Hills T/D range

Regular thorough care is essential to prevent further tartar development. Don’t stress though, we know that despite our best efforts sometimes it will continue to develop so routine scaling and polishing under anaesthetic can still be required.