Dentistry
Proper dental care is one of the foundations of good overall health for cats and dogs.
Routine dental care
Just like humans, proper dental care is one of the foundations of maintaining good overall health for cats and dogs.
Cats and dogs can develop many dental diseases because of how rowdy they are with what they put into their mouths. Keeping your pet’s pearly whites smelling fresh and looking clean is all part of being a loving and nurturing pet parent.
We are fully equipped for routine and complex dental procedures, including ultrasonic scaling and polishing and periodontics. We recommend yearly dental checks by your local health care team to make sure we pick up any concerns early.
Watch out for these symptoms
Sometimes, having white teeth is not enough of an indication that your pet has a healthy mouth. The following are symptoms you also need to look (and smell) out for:
- Smelly breath
- Increased drooling
- Loose teeth
Each of these could point to an underlying dental condition like oral infections or gingivitis. Reach out to your vet as soon as you notice unusual symptoms.
We advise keeping a close eye on your pet’s appetite as well. If they start showing an unwillingness to eat, then that could mean they are experiencing pain as they chew. The sooner you treat what’s happening with their teeth and mouth, the sooner your pet can go back to munching on all their favourite food.
Getting into the habit
It’s a good practice to start caring for your pet’s teeth while they are young. Plaque and tartar can build up anytime in a pet’s life. If left unattended, these bacteria can develop into big problems as your pet ages.
Start regularly brushing your pet’s teeth and massaging their gums as early as when they are a kitten or puppy. Not only does this help their teeth and gums develop cleanly, but it also trains your pet about regular dental hygiene. The more your pet understands that dental hygiene is a part of life, the easier it will be to maintain the routine when they get bigger. Just watch out on your first few tries (avoid bites) and reach out to your local team for support and guidance.
You can also keep things fun with dental chew toys and snacks. These are great for any pet, not just teething kittens and puppies, because they are designed to naturally clean teeth while they gnaw on them. There are plenty of these toys and snacks to choose from on the market, so check with your vet which ones will fit best with your pet’s diet.
Dental health for kittens and puppies
Kittens
Kittens are equipped with a set of 28 teeth, known as deciduous or baby teeth. These teeth will stay with them until they are around four months old, at which point they will begin to fall out and be replaced with a new set of adult teeth. Kitten teeth help them to learn how to eat solid food, groom themselves, and play with their littermates.
Don’t be alarmed when your kitten starts losing their baby teeth – this is a normal process as their adult teeth start to push through. As they’re teething, offer them a kitten-friendly chew toy that they can sink their teeth into and be prepared to water down their food if they’re finding it hard to crunch.
Puppies
It’s a good idea to start caring for your puppy’s teeth from a young age. Proper dental care can help prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar, which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay in later years.
Don’t be alarmed when your puppy starts losing their baby teeth – this is a normal process as their adult teeth start to push through. You’ll most likely see wonky teeth that are about to fall out, or bleeding gums from teeth that have just fallen out. As they’re teething, they’ll most likely look for anything to chew on.
