As you may be aware, dental disease not only affects us but can affect our much loved pets too, so regular checks are important in maintaining your pet's gleaming white smile.
Our team here at North Nowra Veterinary Hospital are happy to check your pet’s teeth and go through what kind of treatments we provide for your pet's dental hygiene. This may include the following:
- Dental check – which involves examining the teeth and gums for any signs of tartar build up, gingivitis or tooth decay. This helps us to prevent further infection or problems getting out of hand.
- Scale and Polish – Done under general anesthetic (your pet is given support while asleep which includes being kept warm with a heat pad, bloods are taken before they are anesthetized to ensure all health parameters are within a normal range, intravenous fluids are given to ensure a quick recovery and a manicure, pedicure and a ear pluck if necessary, which makes your pets make over complete!!) Your pets teeth are scaled and polished which involves scaling the tarter off each tooth and then polishing them until they shine
- Extractions – Done at the same time as the scale and polish, the teeth are removed if only absolutely necessary with your consent
- Each tooth’s pocket (the area between the tooth and the gum) is measured to insure there is no infection
- Antibiotics and pain relief are given if required
- The patient goes home with a Dental Care Starter Kit which includes a tooth brush, sample tooth paste and dentee chews.
Teeth brushing is recommended in order to maintain your pet's winning smile, one of the nurses can show you how this is done effectively.
Providing the right diet can also reduce the trips to the dentist as there are specially formulated dry foods such as Hills Prescription T/D biscuits. Bones are not recommended as they can fracture your dogs teeth which usually results in the removal of the broken tooth. We suggest giving chicken necks or carcass or kangaroo tails.