News Letter July 2014
We
have been granted internet approval form the Veterinary Medicines Directorate J a lot of hard work went into
achieving this approval, but now well worth it.
What
many people do not realise that pets have their own set of problems when it
comes to dental care. One of the main culprits is plaque and tartar. Now, do
you know the difference between them both?
·
Plaque
is a mass of bacteria that is mixed with blood cells, saliva and other
bacterial components which left will lead to tooth and gum disease. The
appearance often looks like a yellow stain.
·
Tartar
occurs when the plaque becomes mineralised causing the plaque to become hard
which then attached quite firmly to the tooth enamel
So,
how do you know if your pet has problems with dental hygiene?
Firstly
your pet may have halitosis (foul breath) and be demonstrating signs of pain
which include pawing at the mouth and difficulty in eating also they may
dribble a lot which may contain a small amount of blood.
If
you continue to ignore these simple signs your pet may go on to develop gum
diseases, painful abscesses and problems within the tooth. A serious issue of
dental problems can occur in advanced cases where the bacteria can get into the
blood stream and cause problems with the liver, heart and kidneys.
Okay
so what are you going to do about it?
First
of all make sure you check your pet’s teeth regularly and if you suspect your
pet is having problems take to the vet and ask them to have a good look in the
mouth. Some pets do not like having their teeth and gums examined and in some
cases it may be necessary for the vet to administer a mild sedative or to admit
them into the practice so they can have an anaesthetic were they can have a
good look in the mouth and if there are any problems for example tartar build
up or teeth that need extracting then it can be done.
Regular
tooth brushing is also recommended as this will help to control any build-up of
plaque. DO NOT USE human toothpaste as there are ingredient’s in there that ARE
NOT suitable for animals, do don’t go out and buy Colegates fresh mint
toothpaste!!!
You
can buy special toothbrushes that are designed for pets so don’t use your sonic
toothbrush on your pet!!.
If
you are not sure how to brush your pets teeth have a browse at the images below
or go onto you tube there are lots of videos on there to show you how to do it,
or just ask your vet nurse at your practice.
If
you feel that you are not able to brush your
pets teeth, then give us a call and we will come out and show you, we can
also provide you with dental toothpaste and brushes for your pet J
In
the meantime don’t forget if you require any of our services please get in
touch and we will be more than happy to discuss your requirements.
Tel: 07411 545254 (Lorraine)
Tel: 07411 671971 (Paul)
