VETERINARY SERVICES
Dog and Cat Dental Care
Good dental health means a happier, healthier pet. Protect your furry friend from painful dental disease with regular check-ups and expert dental care for pets. Book an appointment today!
Strong teeth and fresh breath start here
Pet Dental Care
Just like humans, pets require regular dental care to prevent diseases that can affect their quality of life. From bad breath to gum infections, dental issues in pets can lead to discomfort, pain, and even systemic health problems. About 80% of dogs and 70% of cats that are not on a proper dental care program will suffer from some form of dental disease by the age of two.
At Sydney Animal Hospitals, we provide professional dog dental cleaning and cat dental cleaning procedures to keep your furry friend’s teeth strong and their breath fresh. We recommend that your pet have regular dental health checks performed by a dog dentist or cat dentist.
On this page, we also want to provide you with valuable insights, practical tips, and expert advice to help you keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy at home, ensuring they enjoy a happy and pain-free life by your side.
Pet Dental Care
Just like humans, pets require regular dental care to prevent diseases that can affect their quality of life. From bad breath to gum infections, dental issues in pets can lead to discomfort, pain, and even systemic health problems. About 80% of dogs and 70% of cats that are not on a proper dental care program will suffer from some form of dental disease by the age of two.
At Sydney Animal Hospitals, we provide professional dog dental cleaning and cat dental cleaning procedures to keep your furry friend’s teeth strong and their breath fresh. We recommend that your pet have regular dental health checks performed by a dog dentist or cat dentist.
On this page, we also want to provide you with valuable insights, practical tips, and expert advice to help you keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy at home, ensuring they enjoy a happy and pain-free life by your side.
How Dental Disease in Pets Develops
Proper teeth cleaning for dogs and cats is important to prevent a build-up of bacteria, food particles and saliva. Otherwise, it can lead to the formation of plaque. Plaque, if not properly removed, will calcify into tartar or calculus and appear as a yellow-brown material on your pet’s teeth.
Dental disease has the potential to shorten your pet’s life span. Over time the bacterial infection in tartar causes irreversible damage to occur. This includes:
Destruction of supportive tissues and bone, resulting in red gums, bad breath and loosening of teeth.
Tooth loss, gum infection and pain.
How Do I Know If My Pet Has Dental Disease?
Some signs that your dog or cat may be suffering from dental disease include:
Bad breath
Inflamed gums
Plaque build up
Jaw pain
Difficulty chewing
We recommend that your pet have a dental check performed by one of our Sydney Animal Hospitals Veterinarians regularly and if necessary, following up with a professional dental clean. Your pet needs to be anaesthetised (usually a simple procedure) to carry out a thorough dental examination, and to clean all teeth without distressing the pet. Placing your pet under anaesthesia is the safest way to perform a pet dental procedure.
5 Stages of Treating Dental Disease
01
Charting all your pet’s present teeth and evaluating their condition, including the degree of tartar, gingivitis (gum inflammation) and any pockets in the gums around the teeth.
02
03
Polishing your pet’s teeth using a dental polisher and fine-grade paste.
04
05
Dog Teeth Cleaning and Cat Teeth Cleaning
Daily brushing is the best form of dental hygiene for the long-term prevention of dental disease in dogs and cats.
Provide a constantly refreshed supply of water in a clean bowl. As with humans, when cats are dehydrated their breath will smell. Their sense of smell knows when the water is not fresh.
The Importance of Dental Care for Dogs
Over 80% of dogs develop dental disease by the age of three.
If you notice your dog has bad breath, discoloured or loose teeth, or a change in their appetite or behaviour – chances are your best friend may be experiencing the pain and discomfort of dental disease.
The unsightly tartar build up on your dog’s teeth can often be an obvious indication of dental disease, however, it’s what happens to the nearby gum tissue that’s also of concern. Bacteria can creep into the gum tissue around the teeth and cause inflammation and infection – referred to as gingivitis. This leads to pain and discomfort in the mouth, and can damage and erode the teeth.
Dogs with dental disease are also at risk of developing infections elsewhere in the body because bacteria in the gum tissue can enter the bloodstream, potentially causing problems with your dog’s heart, liver and kidneys. Some breeds of dog can be more at risk of developing disease due to the shape of their mouth. Older dogs are also at greater risk, because their immune systems may be less able to withstand the impact of bacteria entering the bloodstream.
The signs of dental disease can be scary, but the good news is that we’re here to help with our comprehensive dog dental health services.
Give your dog the dental care they deserve
Cat and Dog Dental Care Treatment – Scale and Polish
Your veterinarian is also a pet dentist. They can examine your dog or cat’s mouth and perform professional teeth cleaning treatments. A dental scale and polish procedure involves your pet undergoing a short anaesthetic to reduce stress and discomfort. The process involves a thorough mouth examination, and then an ultrasonic scaler is used to clean the plaque and tartar off the teeth. During this process, any infected or loose teeth can be identified and if necessary, removed.
We can also use x-rays to assess the teeth and nearby jaw bone health. If any tooth extractions are required, our vets will ensure your pet is pain free by providing pain relief medication and a local anaesthetic around the affected tooth. A dental scale and polish is usually a day procedure in the veterinary hospital, which means your pet will be ready to return home the same day for lots of hugs and pats!
Prevention Strategies to Keep Your Dog’s Mouth Healthy.
There are several things you can do to help reduce the build-up of plaque and tartar on your dog’s teeth and prevent the development of dental disease.
Dog Dental Chews
We all know dogs love to chew, and there are several brands of dental chews available which can help reduce tartar build up. The way these dental chews work is that they become sticky when chewed by your dog, and this draws plaque and tartar off the teeth helping to keep the teeth clean.
Teeth Brushing
Much like people brushing their teeth to keep them clean, you can also brush your dog’s teeth using a dog tooth brush and special dog toothpaste. This mechanical brushing action against the teeth surface will help slow the build-up of plaque and tartar. When you book in for your free vet nurse dog dental check, ask us to show you how to brush your dog’s teeth.
Feeding a Healthy Mouth
7 Sydney Animal Hospital Locations Across Sydney
Sydney Animal Hospitals have 7 locations across Sydney for your convenience
Providing Animal Hospital Care with Flexible Payment Options
To help with these unexpected costs Sydney Animal Hospitals offer a number of payment options such as Afterpay, Zip, VetPay, cash and credit card.
If you have pet insurance you may be able to claim on the spot and only pay the gap with GapOnly™
SYDNEY ANIMAL HOSPITALS ACCEPT
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions pet owners ask about dental care for cats and dogs
Why is dental care important for my pet?
How often should I brush my pet's teeth?
What are signs that my pet may have dental problems?
What dental treats or chews are suitable for my pet?
Look for dental treats or chews indicating they meet specific standards for effectiveness in reducing plaque and tartar. Avoid treats that are too hard and could potentially damage your pet’s teeth. Veterinary Oral health Council https://vohc.org/
