Maintaining the health of your dog’s teeth and gums is essential for their overall health. At Vets in Endeavour Hills, we provide comprehensive dental care designed specifically for your beloved pet. From regular dental cleanings to treatments, our skilled team is committed to ensuring your dog has a lifetime of healthy smiles. Routine dental examinations can prevent severe health problems and keep your pup at its best
Signs of dental disease in dogs include:
- Inflamed gums (gingivitis)
- Bad breath caused by bacteria in the mouth
- Discoloured teeth
- Loose teeth
- Excessive drooling
- Reluctant to eat hard food or chew
- Facial swelling
- Changes in behaviour (aggression, disrupted sleep patterns)
So, how can I care for my dog’s dental health?
1. Daily Chewing
Encourage your dog to chew daily for at least 5 minutes to help clean their teeth mechanically. Options include dental diets, specially designed chews, raw hides, and pigs’ ears.
2. Avoid Bones
Do not feed your dog bones. Cooked bones can splinter and cause serious internal damage, while raw bones can lead to pancreatitis or digestive issues.
3. Dental Diets
Hills Science Diet T/D is recommended for daily use as part of your dog’s diet. It’s designed to reduce tartar and calculus buildup.
4. Tooth Brushing and Mouth Rinses
Brushing your dog’s teeth, especially from a young age, is the best preventive measure for dental disease. Use dog-specific toothpaste and soft brushes. Antibacterial mouth rinses are also recommended to reduce bacteria that cause bad breath and periodontal disease.
5. Plaque Off and Water Additives
Plaque Off, a seaweed-based powder, helps prevent plaque buildup when added to your dog’s food. Water additives can also help neutralise bacteria growth in your dog’s mouth, but always provide fresh water alongside.
6. Veterinary Dental Cleaning
Regular professional dental cleanings by a vet can prevent irreversible dental disease and tooth loss, and remove infected or damaged teeth that cause pain. As part of your dog’s regular health assessments provided at Vets on Parker, your vet may recommend a professional dental scale and polish to:
- Prevent the onset of irreversible dental disease and tooth loss; and
- To extract infected and damaged teeth that might be causing your dog pain
Vets in Endeavour Hills utilise dental X-rays, advanced ultrasonic cleaning equipment, and other facilities to provide the best dental care for your dog. After an ultrasonic clean has been performed, the team at Vets in Endeavour Hills will formulate a dental care plan tailored to your dog’s needs.
FAQs
Teeth cleaning (including a dental examination, which includes X-rays to assess the roots of the teeth) must be performed under anaesthesia. This ensures your dog’s comfort and well-being during the procedure.
Dental disease in dogs is graded from 0 to 4. Depending on the severity of gum disease, the level of tartar present, and the number of teeth requiring extraction due to irreparable damage, the cost of your dog’s teeth cleaning can vary.
To get an estimate of costs, arrange an appointment with one of our vets.
Bi-annual dental check-ups are typically advised; however, the frequency of cleanings depends on factors such as age, breed, and existing dental conditions. Our vets can offer recommendations according to your pooch’s requirements.
If your dog has a broken tooth, schedule an appointment with Vets in Endeavour Hills for an evaluation and appropriate treatment. Broken teeth can lead to pain, infection, and other complications and require immediate care.
