Dental Care

Important information if your pet is coming for a dental

No food after 7pm, the previous evening and allow only a modest drink (if wanted) in the morning.

Please arrive between 8am and 8.45am
Please toilet your pet before arrival (dogs)

Dental Treatment at Oak Tree Vet Centre

Introduction

Both puppies and kittens are born without teeth and they gradually acquire their first or deciduous teeth within the first few weeks. At around four months the adult teeth start to push through leading to the expulsion of the deciduous set. It is important that these teeth are lost as their retention can lead to overcrowding and poor alignment of the adult teeth. The most common problem is retained deciduous canine or “eye” teeth, where food and debris collects between the redundant and permanent tooth leading to premature damage.

Maintaining dental health in your pet is partly a matter of good “dental genes” and partly a result of your management. We recommend feeding the majority of cats and dogs on a predominantly dry diet. This provides a mechanical crunch to keep the teeth clean. In addition many pets will allow and come to enjoy having their teeth brushed with a purpose designed veterinary toothpaste like CET paste available in a variety of flavours. This is best started at the puppy or kitten stage so that it becomes part of the daily routine. An alternative to active brushing is the use of a paste called Dentisept, which uses the saliva to distribute it to all areas in the mouth. In addition, providing foods to chew such as rawhide chews, fibrous meat such as shin or using dental products such as Rasks can all help reduce dental deterioration and put off for many years the need for active intervention, on our part.

We recognise 4 stages of dental deterioration: 1) Plaque builds up on the teeth, along the gum line and over time changes into hard yellowish tartar deposits known as calculus. The gums are not inflamed, there is no pain or odour. 2) Over time, more extensive tartar build up on all teeth causes gingivitis (reddening of the gums) and some odour but no pain. 3) If neglected the tartar causes the gums to recede, exposing the tooth roots leading to infection. The breath starts to become offensive and there will be some pain whilst eating. 4) This progresses to a largely hopeless situation for the teeth where their roots are so exposed, the teeth become loose and grossly infected. There is a foul odour and infected, inflamed gums. At this point, the cat or dog will be feeling ill and will not be able to eat properly, although a normal quantity of food may be consumed. Extractions will be inevitable. Our aim is to catch cases at stage 2 before permanent damage is done but it is all too common to be presented with a patient well into stage 4 with the bad breath and general malaise simply put down to “old age”. We always examine your pet’s teeth as part of our full clinical examination but would encourage you to look yourself, from time to time. We are always happy to advise on all dental matters.

*n.b. all fees correct at time of writing. E.&O.E.

Finally
We know that even the most minor operation may cause you considerable anxiety. We shall keep you involved all the way and we assure you that we shall give your pet individual and caring attention.