August is Pet Dental Month

Bad breath is a sign of dental disease, so if your cat or dog’s breath makes you gag this may be a cause for concern.

August is Pet Dental Month we are encouraging local pet owners to take an active role in keeping their pets teeth and gums healthy.  According to the latest studies, dental disease is one of the most frequently diagnosed health problems for our pets.  By the age of two, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some form of dental disease.

Dental disease and mouth pain can affect a pet’s quality of life, appetite, behavior and general well being.

Dental signs to watch out for:

• Bad breath
• Chewing on one side of the mouth or pawing at the mouth
• Red, inflamed or bleeding gums
• Tooth loss
• Going to the food bowl but not eating
• Excess salivation
• Build up of yellow-brown tarter around the gum line.

The bacteria associated with dental disease can spread through the blood stream and cause damage to internal tissues and organs. Dental disease has been linked to numerous health problems in dogs, including liver, kidney and heart disease.

Pets can’t brush their own teeth, but pet owners can help to protect their pets from dental disease by combining a good dental homecare program, with regular dental examinations and a complete and balanced clinically proven dental food.

Terang & Mortlake Vet Clinic’s offer FREE Vet Nurse dental checks for our clients. 

If we recommend a dental procedure for your pet during dental month, you will be entitled to a 10% discount of the normal cost of the procedure. (Petsmiles procedures excluded)

Dental procedures in pets require a general anaesthetic, and as many of our patients with dental disease are older, we will also recommend IV fluids during the procedure. Placing you pet on an IV drip prior to surgery can reduce the risk of complications during an anaesthetic, allow the administration of medications directly into the blood stream, and also helps your pet recover from the anaesthetic.

Most pets come into the clinic in the morning, are examined by a vet, have their procedure completed that day and are discharged by one of our trained veterinary nurses in the afternoon.  After a dental procedure, it is important to instigate some form of prevention.  Daily tooth brushing is the gold standard and is tolerated by many dogs with a patient owner.  Alternatively, the use of a dental diet can be substituted for the animal’s normal food.

Dogs teeth after dental cleaning

Dental Diets
There are a number of dental friendly diets on the market, Hills t/d and Royal Canin Dental.  These foods act as an edible toothbrush, and are clinically proven to reduce gingivitis, stains, plaque and tartar accumulation.  The kibble cleans the teeth as the pet eats, holding together longer to scrub each tooth like a toothbrush.  It also contains some nutrients that prevent the formation of plaque and tartar. During August we are offering a 25% discount on Hill’s t/d and Royal Canin Dental diets. All our prescription diets come with a money back guarantee, so you can try it risk free, knowing you can receive a refund if they don’t like it.

Dental Chews
Our clinic recommends the use of Oravet chews as a daily treat designed to reduce plaque on your dog’s teeth. These are designed to be chewed over several minutes and contain a compound (delmopinol) which forms a barrier stopping bacteria attaching to the teeth.

Raw bones should be used with caution as they can be associated with fractured teeth or gastrointestinal problems. Never feed cooked bones to your pet.

Toothbrushing
You can brush your pet’s teeth using a specially designed dog or cat toothbrush, combined with pet toothpaste. Human toothpaste is not safe for pets. If you are not sure how to do this, ask one of our staff to show you. It does need to be done daily to be effective.

Please note prices indicated in our brochure are subject to change.