Just like us, our pets suffer from plaque build up on their teeth. Plaque releases acids which cause gum inflammation and discomfort and break down the tooth attachments to surrounding bone.

The best prevention of periodontal disease in dogs and cats is toothbrushing. If this can’t be achieved then veterinary oral health council (VOHC) treats and chews can reduce plaque buildup to a lesser extent than toothbrushing would.

In addition to periodontal disease, cats can suffer from resorptive lesions. These are painful holes in the tooth caused by the cat’s own cells breaking down healthy tooth enamel.

Periodontal disease and resorptive lesions require treatment under general anaesthesia. A vet and nurse can examine your pet’s teeth carefully using a dental probe. Dental x-rays can provide information about dental disease under the gum surface such as abscesses or feline resorptive lesions.

If problem teeth causing pain are identified, a local anaesthetic nerve block and injectable pain medication can be given to provide adequate pain relief before the tooth is extracted. Surgical tooth extraction minimising trauma to healthy surrounding tissues and closure of the gums after extraction allows for fast recovery times following the procedure.

If you are concerned about your pet’s teeth, book a dental check up with us. If your pet needs a dental procedure we will refund the cost of your initial consultation at the time of the procedure.