Dogs and cats have the same types of dental problems that are seen in people, but they cannot tell us when their teeth and gums are causing pain and discomfort.  Please take a few minutes to check your pet for these common signs of dental disease to see if he needs help.

Signs of Dental Disease

1. Bad Breath
2. Red or bleeding gums
3. Yellow or brown accumulations on teeth.
4. Broken or irregular teeth
5. Growths or swellings in the mouth
6. Difficulty chewing food

Dental disease can be painful, and it can lead to tooth loss.  In addition, periodontal disease can be a source of infection for your pet's heart, lungs, or kidneys.  Today, with early detection and treatment of dental problems, teeth that would have been removed only a few years ago can now be repaired.  And with proper home dental care, these teeth can last many years.

Feline Dentistry
Cats have periodontal disease just like dogs do, but they also have another dental problem similar to the cavities that people get.  These are tiny cavities located right at or below the gum line, and they are very difficult to detect without a thorough dental examination.

These neck lesions are very painful.  If your cat is reluctant to eat, drooling excessively, or losing weight, or if his gums are inflamed, let us check his teeth.

Presentation of Dental Disease

• Feed hard dry food to clean teeth and stimulate gums
• Provide chew toys such as rawhide and nylon bones (no real bones!)
• Give one or two hard dog biscuits daily
• Brush teeth daily with an approved pet toothpaste or powder (do not use human toothpastes)
• Get regular professional cleaning every 6 to 18 months