When most owners think about dental disease in pets, they think about bad breath. But dog dental disease and cat dental disease are often far more serious than many people realise.
In fact, dental disease in pets is one of the most common painful conditions we see in veterinary medicine — and many animals suffer silently for months or even years before treatment.
One of the biggest misconceptions about pet dental care is that if a dog or cat is still eating, their mouth cannot be painful. Unfortunately, that is simply not true.
Dogs and cats are incredibly good at hiding pain.
Many pets continue eating despite severe dental disease because eating is instinctive. Some even adapt by chewing on one side of the mouth, swallowing food whole, or avoiding hard food without owners noticing. By the time obvious symptoms appear, the disease is often advanced.
What Does Dental Disease in Pets Look Like?
The signs of dental disease in pets are not always dramatic. Sometimes the changes are subtle and develop slowly over time.
Signs can include:
- Bad breath
- Red or bleeding gums
- Brown tartar build-up
- Dropping food while eating
- Reluctance to chew toys
- Pawing at the mouth
- Excessive drooling
- Eating more slowly
- Weight loss
- Swelling under the eye
- Becoming quieter or less playful
- Nasal discharge
- Coughing
Cats with cat dental disease are especially good at masking pain. Some owners only realise how uncomfortable their cat was after treatment, when their pet suddenly becomes more affectionate, active and interactive again.
Dental Disease Affects More Than the Mouth
Dental disease in pets does not stay confined to the mouth.
Severe infection and inflammation can affect the entire body. Bacteria from diseased teeth and gums may enter the bloodstream and potentially contribute to heart, kidney and liver disease over time.
In advanced cases, pets may develop painful tooth root abscesses, loose teeth, bone infection and severe oral inflammation.
This is why preventative pet dental care is so important.
Why Veterinary Dental Procedures Matter
A proper veterinary dental procedure is far more than simply “cleaning teeth.”
At Cottage Vet Clinic, dental procedures are performed under general anaesthesia so that we can properly assess the entire mouth, clean beneath the gumline where disease hides, and deal with broken or damaged teeth.
During a dental assessment, under anaesthetic we evaluate:
- Gum health
- Tooth stability
- Tooth root health
- Fractures
- Oral masses
- Infection
- Areas of pain
If necessary, diseased teeth may need extraction to remove ongoing pain and infection.
Preventing Dental Disease in Pets
The good news is that dog dental disease and cat dental disease can often be slowed significantly with good preventative care.
Helpful strategies include:
- Regular veterinary dental checks
- Veterinary-approved dental diets
- Tooth brushing
- Dental treats approved by your veterinarian
- Avoiding excessively hard chew items
- Routine professional dental cleaning when recommended
Starting pet dental care early in life makes a huge difference.
Don’t Ignore the Signs
Dental disease in pets is not “normal ageing,” and bad breath should never simply be accepted as normal.
If your dog or cat has smelly breath, tartar build-up, difficulty chewing or behavioural changes, it may be time for a dental assessment.
Treating dental disease in pets can dramatically improve comfort, quality of life and overall health.
To book a dental check for your pet, contact Cottage Vet Clinic.
