Dental Health Awareness for Pets

Your pet’s dental health is crucial for their well-being. Puppies and kittens develop primary teeth early, followed by permanent teeth. Dental issues like gingivitis and plaque buildup can cause pain and tooth loss if untreated. Teething requires safe chew toys, while regular brushing and vet check-ups help prevent disease. This guide covers key dental care tips and treatment options to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

Puppy Teeth:

Puppies and kittens have primary (deciduous) teeth, these begin to erupt around 2-6 weeks of age.

Puppies = 28 / Kittens = 26

Permanent Teeth:

Adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth. Adult cats have 30 permanent teeth

Permanent teeth typically erupt between 12 weeks and 8 months of age.

Teething:

Kittens and puppies may show signs of discomfort during the teething stage, we recommend that you provide them with opportunities to demonstrate teething behaviours with appropriate toys/chews, for example:

  • Frozen stuffed Kongs
  • Rope toys soaked in chicken broth and frozen
  • Soft toys during the early stages of teething
  • Increase the durability of teeth

** Always monitor your pet is safe, do not leave them unattended with toys or chews **

Tip for Teething:

Avoid allowing your pet to chew your hands.

Puppy proof your home to prevent important items becoming damaged or accidental injury to your pet.

Avoid telling your pet off if they do chew items, this may cause them to feel fearful.

Reward your pet for chewing appropriate items or when they are calm.

Keep your puppy active and provide enrichment/sniffing exercises

Encourage them to lick and chew which releases ‘happy’ endorphins

Try to encourage your pet to get some sleep.

Speak with your veterinarian if you have any concerns.

Types of Teeth:

Incisors – grabbing/gripping
Canines – tearing and shredding
Premolars – breaking down food into digestible pieces
Molars – grinding and chewing

Terms:

Gingivitis = inflammation of the gums.
Plaque = an invisible slime which is produced by bacteria and forms on the surface of teeth (this can also be found below the gum line).
Tartar = hardening of plaque on the teeth.
Periodontal pockets = deep gaps that form between the teeth and gum.
Periodontitis = infection of the gum which leads to damage to the gum, ligaments and bone below the gumline.
Halitosis = bad breath.
Malocclusion = misalignment of teeth which can result in an under or overbite and damage to teeth. Sometimes caused by overcrowding of teeth.

** Without treatment, dental disease is painful and may result in loss of teeth **

What is dental disease?

Dental disease is a common health condition that occurs when tissues within the mouth become inflamed. Dental disease is typically caused by an increase in bacteria which create plaque to form, gaps forming between the teeth and damage to the ligaments and bone below the gumline may occur. There are four stages of dental disease:

  • Gingivitis
  • Early periodontal disease – 25% loss of periodontal ligament attachment
  • Established periodontal disease – 25-50% loss of periodontal ligament attachment
  • Advanced periodontal disease – over 50% loss of periodontal ligament attachment

Is my pet at risk of dental disease?

All animals are at risk of dental disease, one study suggested that more than 80% of dogs over the age of 3 years old are experiencing some degree of dental disease and another study reported dental disease to be the most diagnosed condition in cats. Some pets were identified to have an increased risk of dental disease and included:

  • Older pets, usually over 12 years of age
  • Small breed dogs under 10kg
  • Brachycephalic breed dogs
  • Certain breeds of pet (Toy Poodles, King Charles Cavalier Spaniels, Greyhounds. Siamese, Maine Coon, British Shorthair, Crossbreeds).

How can I tell if my pet has dental disease?

Possible signs of dental disease which you may identify at home include:

  • Pawing at the mouth
  • Shaking their head
  • Blood in your pet’s water bowl or saliva
  • Foul breath
  • Inappetence
  • Drooling
  • Chewing on one side of the mouth
  • Chattering of jaw
  • Changes in behaviour

If you are concerned that your pet may have dental disease, please contact your veterinary team who are trained to perform examinations of your pet’s mouth. Your veterinary team will look for any signs of gingivitis, plaque or tartar, gum recession, damaged teeth, malocclusion, abscesses or retained baby teeth. Your pet may require a sedation/general anaesthetic to fully assess the level of dental disease below the gumline.

How can I treat dental disease?

Stage 1 dental disease requires a scale and polish under general anaesthetic and home dental care.

Stage 2 dental disease requires a scale and polish under general anaesthetic to deep clean below the gumline, with or without the addition of antimicrobial medications.

Stage 3 and 4 dental disease require dental surgery with the addition of antimicrobial medications and will likely result in the extraction of teeth.

Can I prevent my pet from developing dental disease?

Although some pets may have an increased risk, the good news is that you can prevent your pet from developing dental disease or reduce the speed at which it develops. There are several products on the market, including:

  • Toothpastes and toothbrushes
  • Gels
  • Powders
  • Liquids
  • Wipes
  • Dental diets
  • Dental chews
  • Activities that involve chewing

A multi-modal approach may be beneficial, this involves the use of multiple products used in combination, for example, the use of a dental chew, some dental kibble and dental powder added to your pets food.

Reviewed products can be found at the Veterinary Oral Healthcare Council https://vohc.org/

What happens when my pet is booked in for a dental?

Once you have booked your pet in for a dental, one of our nurses will admit your pet on the morning of the procedure to obtain any relevant information. Our nursing team will settle your pet into a comfy kennel and prepare them for their procecedure, this will include applying some local anaesthetic to their leg or neck, this allows us to collect blood samples and place intravenous catheters without discomfort and carrying out a physical assessment to ensure they are in good health for their anaesthetic. The veterinarian will administer an intravenous anaesthetic which will induce anaesthesia, this ensures that your pet is unaware of the procedure. Your pet will be attached to equipment to monitor their vitals and to maintain their anaesthetic, our nursing team will closely monitor your pet’s heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, blood pressure and oxygen/carbon dioxide levels. The veterinarian will perform an assessment whilst the nurse completes a chart of your pet’s mouth, which will include:

  • Removing any thick tartar
  • Assessing for any periodontal pockets/damaged or retained teeth
  • Stage the level of dental disease
  • Perform x-rays to identify any hidden disease under the gumline

Your pet’s teeth will then be cleaned using an ultrasound scaler to remove any plaque or tartar and to clean any material between the teeth, below the gumline or in periodontal pockets. Once the teeth are clean, they will be polished to ensure the surface of the teeth is smoothe to make it more difficult to plaque and bacteria to form. With your consent, any teeth thought to be problematic will be extracted.

Once the procedure is complete, our nursing team will recover your pet from their anaesthetic and once fully awake they will be offered some food, you will be contacted with an update and will then be able to take your pet back home. When your pet is discharged, the nursing team will discuss any aftercare, including dental preventative advice. You may be asked to attend a post operative assessment a few days following the procedure, this will allow our team to check for any signs of infection or inflammation.

Is dental treatment covered by my insurance?

Some insurance providers cover dental treatments, however, many do not. This information may be found in your insurance paperwork, or you could contact the company directly. If you are unsure if your insurance provider will cover dental treatment, your veterinary team can assist you with completing a preauthorisation form to confirm whether your insurance company will cover the costs of treatment before you go ahead.

When should I brush by pet’s teeth?

Tooth brushing is the gold standard treatment for preventing dental disease, brushing your pets’ teeth once daily or every other day is thought to be sufficient in reducing dental disease. You should begin training your pet to have their teeth brushed before their permeant teeth erupt, a great time to do this is between 3-14 weeks of age when they are most likely to accept this training. Some pets will not tolerate having their teeth brushed and this could be dangerous for their owners, however, alternative treatments are available and can be used in combination.

How do I train by dog to have their teeth brushed?

Useful link: https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/health-wellbeing/at-home/dog-dental-hygiene

What about anaesthesia-free dentals?

More recently, the option for anaesthesia free dentals has been offered as a service by non-veterinary, animal-related businesses. The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) considers that “anaesthesia-free dental procedures” for cats and dogs, are not in the best interests in the health and welfare of patients. For this reason, veterinarians will only perform dentals under general anaesthesia.

Reasons for not performing an anaesthesia-free dental include:

  • The inability to complete a full oral examination, which could lead to misdiagnoses or delayed diagnosis of dental disease
  • The inability to fully and effective clean the sub-gingival areas below the gumline
  • The risk of damage to the tissues surrounding the teeth
  • The risk of discomfort, pain and/or distress to the animal
  • The risk of delaying clients accessing effective, proper oral care