Dental care: looking after your pet’s teeth

Why is dental care so important?

Dental disease is commonly seen in dogs, cats, rabbits and other species. 

When your pets visit us we will routinely undergo a full clinical examination, which includes looking inside their mouths and at their teeth. 

This is often when dental disease is discovered. 

Pets often do not express pain in the way we expect them to and therefore dental disease often goes undetected at home and may be present for some time before it is discovered.

Some cats and dogs with dental pain may be quiet or irritable, rub or paw at their mouths, cease to groom themselves, avoid chewing hard foods or selectively eat on one side of their mouth. 

Rabbits with dental disease may show signs including a decreased appetite, runny eyes, a wet chin or front legs, and a build-up of faeces around their tail. 

You should always contact your vet for advice if you notice any changes that are not normal for your pet.