Dental health
Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats
The most common disease in adult pets, why it is genuinely painful, and what actually prevents it.
General information
By three years of age, the majority of dogs and cats show some degree of periodontal disease. Plaque mineralises into tartar within days, inflammation spreads below the gumline, and the supporting structures of the tooth are gradually destroyed.
Symptoms
Animals rarely stop eating from dental pain — they adapt. Look instead for:
- Bad breath, which is never normal
- Red or bleeding gums
- Dropping food, chewing on one side, or swallowing food whole
- Pawing at the mouth or head shyness
- Visible brown tartar or a receded gumline
- In cats, painful resorptive lesions that cause jaw chattering
When veterinary attention is appropriate
Any of the signs above warrants an examination. A conscious mouth check can only assess part of the problem: full assessment requires dental radiographs under general anaesthesia, because most disease is below the gumline.
Treatment and prevention
Treatment is a scale and polish under anaesthesia, with extraction of diseased teeth. Anaesthesia-free dental cleaning does not treat disease below the gumline and is not endorsed by veterinary dental bodies.
Prevention that works: daily toothbrushing with pet toothpaste. Dental diets, water additives and chews with recognised veterinary dental accreditation help, but nothing matches brushing.