From the category archives:

FAQ – Owner

FDA Dog Teeth Warning – No Bones About It!

One of the most common problems we see are broken dog teeth -  specifically ‘slab fractures’ of the upper carnassials. These are the big teeth on the side of the mouth that dogs chew with in a scissor-like action. When they fracture the whole side of the tooth snaps off, resulting in pain and infection [...]

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Do Dog Chews Really Work?

There is a lot of debate about whether dog chews really are effective at controlling bad breath and gum disease in our pooches. Questions such as “Which dog chews are effective?” and “How often should my dog be given a dog chew?” come up regularly in veterinary consultations. The goal of a dog chew is [...]

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Is a pet dental procedure too much for my old pet?

February 15, 2010

As pets grow old, one of the things that is important to maintain is quality of life. If the teeth are severely infected or there is severe gingivitis and gum disease going on in the mouth, the quality of life is poor as the animal experiences discomfort and pain constantly. Older pets are more prone [...]

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What is involved in a referral to Sydney Pet Dentistry?

January 8, 2010

Once the appointment is arranged things are pretty straight forward. Don’t feed your pet on the morning of the consultation in case general anaesthesia is required. If possible make sure your pet goes to the toilet beforehand as well. Aim to arrive approximately 10 mins prior to your scheduled appointment time so your details can [...]

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Why does pet dentistry need to be performed under anaesthesia?

November 30, 2009

Pet dentistry is a tricky job! While human dentists can perform almost all procedures upon their patients without a general anaesthetic, proper oral examination and treatment in cats and dogs requires the patient to be fully anaesthetised. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, we can all appreciate that most pets are not good at [...]

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Professional pet teeth cleaning – the 10 steps to a healthy pain free mouth

November 30, 2009

Dog teeth cleaning and cat teeth cleaning can be rephrased as the physical removal of  infection – they are NOT cosmetic procedures. As the vast majority of our patients have exisiting dental disease that requires diagnosis and treatment, there is far more to dental treatment than just cleaning the teeth. Once your pet is anaesthetised, [...]

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Pet dental treatments can be painful….!? What we do to stop pain.

November 30, 2009

Whilst pet dental procedures such as cleaning and polishing are generally not uncomfortable (most of us have experienced this at our own dentist), treatment of periodontal disease, extraction of teeth and advanced treatments such as root canal therapy and vital pulpotomy procedures can cause pain for our patients. All procedures are carried out under a [...]

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Cat and dog teeth – how often should they be checked?

November 30, 2009

This varies from individual to individual. Factors affecting the development of dental disease include diet, chewing habits, the degree of dental care provided at home, genetics and the presence of other illnesses. If your pet will allow you to check its mouth, you can look at its teeth and gums weekly for obvious signs of [...]

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Dog breath is not normal! Why your pets breath is so horrible

November 30, 2009

Bad dog breath is not normal! ‘Dog breath’ is usually due to infection in the mouth. Plaque bacteria produce foul smelling compounds including hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg gas). As the infection progresses, pockets of pus and dead tissue accumulate around the teeth. Trapped food or foreign material can also contribute to the smell. Cats of [...]

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Painful dog teeth? My vet says so but my pet is eating and seems comfortable

November 30, 2009

Many oral conditions such as periodontal disease and malocclusions (orthodontic problems) are chronic so pets adapt to the progressive discomfort, displaying few (if any) behavioural changes, until the pain becomes unbearable. Even with problems that cause acute pain (such as dental fractures) dogs and cats will often keep eating if they can – if they [...]

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