Many pets have dental issues, like periodontal (gum) disease, that often go unnoticed by pet parents. This can not only be painful for your pet but can affect other vital organs, even causing a range of other health issues like heart disease. If you’d like to schedule a dental cleaning for your pet, please contact us at 905-983-9010.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease happens when food particles and bacteria on the surface of your pet’s teeth and gums combine to create plaque. Over time, if your pet’s teeth aren’t regularly brushed and the plaque isn’t removed, it hardens into tartar. Tartar causes inflammation, and can worsen into receding gums, chronic pain, bone loss and lost teeth. When bacteria from your pet’s mouth gets in their bloodstream, it can cause complications in other organs like the heart, kidneys and liver.
How do I know if my pet has it?
Some symptoms of periodontal disease include:
- Yellow or brown teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Drooling
- Broken teeth
- Aggression
- Loss of appetite
How can dental care help?
Dental care isn’t only professionally cleaning your pet’s teeth but also providing recommendations about ways you can maintain your pet’s oral health between visits. When we perform a cleaning, we put your pet under general anesthetic to ensure their safety. We also take digital X-rays, which help us identify the health of your pet’s teeth as well as any issues below the gumline. You should aim to brush your pet’s teeth daily, using pet-friendly toothpaste and other dental products.
