What is Dental Disease?
Dental disease, also known as ‘tooth and gum disease’ is one of the most common problems in cats and dogs, but it often goes undetected. Over time, layers of bacteria and food particles collect on your pet’s teeth, forming ‘plaque’. When tartar calcifies, this then becomes ‘tartar’, which irritates and causes infection in the gums (gingivitis) and if left untreated, can lead to periodontitis.
Periodontitis is where the infection reaches the tooth’s roots and damages the ligaments and bones that support the tooth. Eventually, the gum and roots lose their integrity and tooth loss occurs. Bacteria can also enter the bloodstream and cause other problems including heart and kidney disease.
What are the signs of tooth and gum disease?
Many pets suffer from poor dental health for a long time before their owners realize so it is important to regularly check your pet’s mouth and watch for any changes in their behavior. Common signs of tooth and gum disease to watch out for include:
- Yellow or brown stains on the teeth (tartar), particularly around the back molars.
- Redness of gums (gingivitis) at the tooth/gum margins
- Dribbling and/or bad breath
- Painful gums or loose teeth
- Pawing at the mouth
- Reluctance to eat or difficulty eating.
Dental Grading
The severity of the periodontal disease is generally graded on a scale of 4.
Grade 1 (Gingivitis): Mild tartar and gingivitis. Teeth are healthy with pocket depths
Grade 2 (Early Periodontitis): Moderate tartar and gingivitis, with build-up extending further into pockets. Gums may start to recede. Pockets are 2-4mm. At this stage the disease is reversible with veterinary treatment and cleaning, provided action is taken immediately.
Grade 3 (Moderate Periodontitis): Marked tartar, gingivitis and smelly breath. Beginnings of periodontal disease with bright red ulcerated gums. Pocket depth is between 4-8mm. The mouth will be sore and eating behavior may change. This stage of periodontal disease can be irreversible. Extractions are typically required.
Grade 4 (Advanced Periodontitis): Severe gingivitis, and tartar with odorous breath. Gums have receded extensively due to chronic infection. Severe bone loss and tooth may be loose. At this stage, your pet is at risk of becoming extremely ill should bacteria get into their bloodstream.
Dental Services for Cats and Dogs in Sydney
Just like humans, pets are vulnerable to a whole host of dental issues and gum disease. In fact, around 80% of our canine family members can expect dental issues by the age of two without a proper dental plan in place. The same goes for cats, of which 70% struggle with dental issues without the right dental care program in place
As part of our wider veterinarian services, Animal Tracks offer dog and cat dental services in Sydney for pet owners in surrounding suburbs. Not all pet owners are aware of the fact that pets need to have their mouth health regulated with human help and this extends to daily dental care and maintenance together with annual dental checks at the vet.
How Does Dental Disease Develop in Pets?
Back when our pets used to be wild and hunt their own food, they would be ingesting a whole lot of fur, bones and sinewy meat that helped to keep their teeth in decent shape. However, these days kibbles and other food don’t have the same effect and pets can struggle with a build-up of food, bacteria and saliva that then causes plaque to form. If this plaque isn’t removed, it can turn into tartar and creates a hard, yellow/brown deposit on your pet’s teeth.
The tartar provides the prime material for bacterial infections that could cause huge damage to your pets dental health and even shorten their life.
Damage such as the breakdown of supportive tissues and bones, tooth loss, intense pain and gum infections is a source of major dental discomfort and problems for your precious pet. The infection could spread further in the body too and reach vital organs like the liver, heart and kidneys.
How Often Does Your Pet Need Dental Check-ups?
When it comes to your pet’s dental health, we advise that you put in a daily dental care program that you can do at home. On top of this, we believe that your pet should have their teeth checked by a professional vet at least once a year and more regularly if your pet has dental issues.
A routine, yet comprehensive, dental examination at Animal Tracks includes:
- Chartering and evaluating your pet’s teeth and the state that they are in
- Removing any tartar above the gum line with an innovative ultrasonic scanner
- A specialised pet dental polish on their teeth
- We may also perform a dental radiograph if we notice any issues with some of your pet’s teeth
Cat & Dog Dental Cleaning Practices: The Best At Home Practices
We advise daily brushing of your pet’s teeth as part of an at-home dental care program. Remember to start as young as you can so that they get used to the process and only used specialised pet brushes and paste. Feeding your pet safe and approved raw and meaty food and dog bones together with enzymatic chews and dental biscuits and snacks can help keep their teeth clean and always have a supply of fresh water to keep them hydrated at all times.
Your Local Dog and Cat Dentals Sydney
At Animal Tracks, we are known for our comprehensive dental checks and treatments, as well as our overall passion for animals and outstanding customers service. You can also find us in local areas for Dog dental cleaning Olympic Park, Dog dental Homebush, Dog dental Newington, Cat dental Homebush, Cat dental Newington and Cat dental Olympic Park.
If you’d like to book an appointment for your pet to get a dental check, routine vaccines, or anything in between, then get in touch with Animal Tracks. We look forward to meeting you and your pet soon.
Safe, High-Quality Pet Dental Care in Homebush and Beyond
Hello, and welcome to Animal Tracks Vet Clinic. We are based in Homebush village, and have over two decades of experience catering to the medical and dental needs of animals and their pet humans! We are a small, passionate team of three veterinarians, seven nurses, and seven friendly and helpful receptionists. Our vets have over 40 years worth of experience working with animals and maintaining their health and wellbeing, so you can come to us safe in the knowledge that your beloved pet will be well taken care of.
We provide dog dentals and cat dentals in and near Homebush and its surroundings including our Newington Veterinary, Olympic Park, Sydney, and beyond. No matter where you’re based in New South Wales, we have made ourselves accessible and convenient.
Additionally, we are also fully equipped and qualified to perform soft tissue surgeries, and we also provide radiology and basic, in-house pathology. And if you need puppy preschool, to help your furry friend get a headstart on their training and socialisation, that’s also an area in which we’re happy to help!
However, we’re not just here in times of immediate sickness or need. We offer a well-rounded, lifelong veterinary service that will benefit your pet throughout its entire lifetime. It’s one of the reasons we love what we do – we form relationships with you and your animals that last years, if not decades! Once you begin your journey with us, you’ll never need to worry about explaining your animal’s medical history to a new care provider, or some important piece of information or documentation going missing: centralise your animals’ care plan by having their vet, nurses, and history all in one place, and you can rest assured knowing you’ve set your pet up for a long, healthy life.
Reliable, Experienced Sydney Pet Dentistry Available Right Here
When you book an appointment with us at Animal Tracks, you’re trusting in nearly 50 years of combined experience between our two head vets. That means they’ve seen the spectrum of what pets can deal with throughout their lives. That includes dental health issues, which affect nearly 80% of dogs and 70% of cats throughout their lives.
Many owners assume that, unlike us, your animals’ mouths can take care of themselves. Many people assume that our pets still have dental health that regulates itself. After all, wild animals don’t need their teeth brushed; what sort of lion needs a cat dentist from Sydney, right? Surely your own pup or kitty is the same. But their diet of pet foods is vastly different to what their teeth were designed for, so they can be prone to a build-up of plaque. Plaque can turn into tartar. Now, that might just seem like discolouration, but tartar is actually a ripe breeding ground for bacterial infections. Dental health isn’t a minor concern. If an infection is serious enough, it can reach the bloodstream of your pet, at which point they might even develop kidney or heart issues. So, never neglect their dental health!
Dog Dental Cleaning, at Home and in Check-Ups
In the same way we offer nutritional advice, we can offer you advice on the best brushes and toothpastes for your dog or cat. Based on their current dental profile, we can also recommend how often they should have their teeth brushed and how often they should come to us for a check-up. Dental issues can start early into a pet’s life, before the third year even starts, so don’t leave it as an afterthought! With a good brushing routine and regular inspection, your pet won’t ever have to deal with painful infections or receding gums.
Why Is Animal Dental Care Important?
Proper animal dental care prevents dental disease, which is also sometimes referred to as “tooth and gum disease.” This is a common problem in cats and dogs but can be difficult to detect. Food and bacteria in your pet’s mouth turn to tartar, which in turn, once it calcifies, can turn into plaque. Just as with humans, plaque can irritate and cause infection in the gums. If this is left untreated for long enough, periodontitis can result; this is a condition that damages the bones and ligaments supporting the tooth, which can lead to tooth loss. Further, bacteria can enter the bloodstream through the wound, and cause heart problems and further infections.
Maintaining your animal’s dental health protects them from infection and tooth loss, and means that they are able to eat the balanced diet they require in order to thrive, without discomfort or pain.
The best offence against dental problems is defence – prevent the problems before they happen! We can help with this. For dog dental near Olympic Park or cat dental near Sydney, reach out to Animal Tracks Vet Clinic today.
Book an appointment for your pet Today!
If you’d like to book a cat or dog dental cleaning appointment for your pet to see the vet or access any of our wellness or other pet-related services, simply call us now on 9764 6066.
We’re based at The Crescent in Homebush, opposite Homebush Railway Station and are open 7 days a week for your convenience.
Animal Tracks is the experienced & friendly Veterinary Clinic in Sydney. We serve many surrounding suburbs including Veterinary Homebush West, Veterinary Rhodes, Veterinary Burwood, Veterinary Lidcombe & Veterinary Strathfield, which makes it easier for pet owners to visit their nearest Veterinarian for all routine check-ups & treatments anywhere in Sydney.