At the age of three years over 70% of cats and dogs will start to show signs of periodontal disease
This progresses to bad breath and discomfort leading to tooth loss and often more serious conditions such as heart and liver disease.
At Ark Vetcare we always assess your pet’s mouth while it is getting the annual health check and vaccination and are happy to advise on routine dental care such as regular brushing of teeth or feeding of diets that promote dental hygiene.
Should your pet show signs of dental disease we may also suggest a descale and polish or in worse cases there may be a need to remove loose or damaged teeth. This is a routine procedure performed in the mornings in each of our clinics. It requires a short anaesthetic during which the plaque and tartar is removed by means of an ultrasonic descaler and the teeth are then polished smooth to delay the build up of further plaque and make home brushing more effective. Our vets will check each tooth individually for pockets around the teeth, expose roots or tooth decay. Tooth decay is a particular (and painful) problem in cats.
In older or weaker animals your vet may recommend a pre anaesthetic blood test to minimise any potential risks to your pet.
