Did you know that periodontal (dental) disease is one of the most common diseases in dogs and cats? More than 85% of dogs and cats over four years of age suffer from periodontal disease!
Signs of periodontal disease in pets include:
- bad breath
- bleeding gums (look for blood on chew toys also)
- loss of appetite / eating on one side of mouth / dropping food from mouth
- scratching at the face
- irritability/lethargy
Left untreated, dental problems can result in bacterial gum infections, pain, and/or lost teeth.
You can reduce the risk of periodontal disease with a yearly comprehensive dental/oral examination, professional dental cleaning, and at-home teeth brushing.
At North Oak Animal Hospital, we provide comprehensive dental services, including:
- Professional dental cleaning, scaling and polishing.
- Extraction of worn/ abscessed teeth
- State of the art digital dental x-rays
- General oral surgery procedures
When it comes to at-home brushing, we’ll be happy to give you pointers on how to get started brushing your pet’s teeth—just ask! If your pet won’t tolerate brushing or you’re unable to do it yourself, our veterinarians can offer suggestions about special dental diets or other products such as enzymatic chews to aid in the care of your pet’s teeth. We conveniently stock many of these foods and other items—including pet toothbrushes and toothpaste—right here at the hospital.
It is never too late to start taking care of your pet’s teeth! If your pet is showing any of the above symptoms of dental disease, please call us at 816-436-4400 and make an appointment as soon as possible.