So, March is Pet dental month apparently – there seems to be a day or month for everything! Anyhow it is a good chance to talk about our pets’ teeth. Teeth are teeth, just like ours the tooth of a mammal is consistently made up of the same material. What does differ is the shape, size, and number of roots. The ‘fang’ tooth (called canine) in a dog and cat has a root that is a similar size if not bigger than what you can see. The back teeth (molars) have 2-3 roots which help make them super strong.
Just like us dental pain is horrid for our pets, they commonly suffer abscesses under their teeth and inflammation (also called gingivitis) around their teeth. Sometimes they will tell you their mouth hurts – they may go off food, eat to one side of the mouth, a swelling may appear under the eye, but it is often amazing what discomfort they will still eat with. After having diseased teeth removed, we often hear owners say, ‘their dog is acting like a puppy again’ or ‘we just thought they were getting old’.
The best way to keep your pets’ teeth clean is to use a toothbrush and pet toothpaste, nothing beats physically brushing them. If this is a struggle there are alternatives that can help your pets’ teeth stay clean, including dental sticks, dental diets, and pet mouth washes. If your pet will allow, regularly look inside their mouth or when it is in for an annual vaccination ask the vet to check.
Lucy Travers BVSc CertAVP MRCVS
Highfields Vets