Why is a pet dentist important?
Maintaining good dental hygiene and addressing dental problems quickly can help support your pet’s health; Cat and dog dental cleaning can help with the following:
Preventing Dental Disease
Regular dental care can help prevent dental problems in pets, such as infections, chronic pain and disease. It is the reason behind the number one disease common among pets – periodontal disease!
Build-ups of bacteria in this dental disease cause pus and inflammation, leading to gum and bone loss and, eventually, teeth falling out.
Supporting Health
Dental problems can also have a negative impact on your pet’s overall health. Bacteria accumulating in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause infection in other parts of the body, leading to serious health problems.
Improving Quality of Life
Pets with dental problems may avoid certain foods, have difficulty chewing, or experience chronic pain and discomfort. By handling dental issues early and providing appropriate treatment, you can help improve your pet’s quality of life and ensure they are happy and healthy.
Good dental hygiene includes:
- Regular Dental Check-ups
- Daily Brushing (once a day)
- Pet-grade Dental Antiseptics
Our vet will advise you on a well-rounded routine based on your pet’s needs and lifestyle for the most effective and sustainable method to look after your pet’s oral hygiene.
Pet Dental Services at Bayside Vets
Pet Teeth Cleaning with Anaesthetic
If your pet has any obvious pathology or calculus build-up in the mouth, it may need dental cleaning under anaesthesia; this will allow your vet to properly scale off the tartar from their teeth and investigate and treat your pet’s dental problems.
Our vet will recommend a dental care regime for your pet between dental checkups and cleanings. In most cases, part of this regime will include brushing and chewing.
Pet Dental Check-Ups
Just as you need to visit the dentist twice yearly to look after your teeth, your cat or dog also does. We include a dental check-up in every general health vet consultation to assist you in your dog’s or cat’s dental care.
Dog Dental Care Cleaning at Home
Brushing (mechanical and chemical abrasion)
Brushing is the number one method for dog teeth cleaning to remove plaque and keep bacteria at bay. It uses both the mechanical abrasion of bristles and the chemical support of pet-grade antiseptics to kill bacteria.
Our dog dentistry can help you train your dog to get comfortable with touching their teeth and gums and move up from there so that you can easily clean your dog’s teeth at home.
Please note: Never use human toothpaste while brushing your dog or cat’s teeth. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener often used in human toothpaste, which can be toxic to dogs and cause drops in blood sugar or liver damage.
Chewing (mechanical abrasion)
When buying toys and chew treats, we recommend looking for products approved by the veterinary oral health council.
There’s debate about whether dog dental care should include giving your dog raw bones to chew on. In some cases, hard bones fracture a dog’s teeth. There are other risks from chewing bones to other parts of your dog’s health. Sharp bone fragments can hurt your dog’s internal organs if they are an aggressive chewer, or they could get sick from bacterial contamination from fresh bones with cartilage and meat.
Please note: Cooked bones must never be given to your dog, as they are complex and break into harsh shards.
Cat Dental Cleaning at Home
Brushing the teeth of cats
Brushing your cat’s teeth can be a challenge, but with the help of our cat dentistry, you can learn how to do it; some easy tips to brush their teeth are:
- Start slowly: Begin by getting your cat used to the taste and texture of the toothpaste; let them sniff and lick a small amount of toothpaste from your finger.
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush: You can use a special cat or child-sized toothbrush. Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to the brush.
- Brush gently: Gently lift your cat’s lip and brush the teeth in a circular motion. Focus on the outer surfaces of the teeth, where plaque is most likely to build up.
- Be patient: It may take several weeks for your cat to get used to having their teeth brushed. If your cat is resistant, use a dental wipe or rinse instead.
Please note: Never use human toothpaste while brushing your dog or cat’s teeth. The high level of fluoride in human toothpaste can make cats severely ill if eaten.
Dental Wipes, Treats and Toys
If your cat doesn’t tolerate brushing their teeth, you can use a dental wipe or rinse. Dental rinses are liquids you can add to your cat’s drinking water to help freshen their breath and reduce plaque buildup. These products can effectively maintain your cat’s dental health, but they should not be used as a substitute for brushing.
Various dental treats and toys are available to help keep your cat’s teeth clean. Some treats are designed to be crunchy, which can help remove plaque as your cat chews.
Other treats contain enzymes to help break down plaque and freshen your cat’s breath, helping to clean your cat’s teeth while providing entertainment.
Dog and cat dental care at Bayside Veterinary
We’re dedicated to helping you look after your pets and provide cat and dog dental services. Sometimes a dental problem may also point to other health issues your pet faces. We at the Bayside Animal Hospital Rhodes and Wolli Creek have broad expertise, allowing us to offer you various services to look after your pets.