Dentistry
At Harvest Pointe Animal Hospital in Edmonton, we want pet owners to know that pet dental health is just as important as every other aspect of their wellbeing. A pet with a poor oral condition may have behavioural issues, an inability to eat properly, and increasing or excessive pain.
Dentistry
At Harvest Pointe Animal Hospital in Edmonton, we want pet owners to know that pet dental health is just as important as every other aspect of their wellbeing. A pet with a poor oral condition may have behavioural issues, an inability to eat properly, and increasing or excessive pain.
Pet dentistry is an essential service that needs to be a part of your pet’s annual veterinary care visit.
We have veterinarians available to meet all the oral health care needs of small mammals, rabbits and rodents, and even reptiles!
Rabbit and Rodent Dentistry
Rabbits and rodents have unique teeth that continuously grow throughout their lives. They, therefore, have dental requirements that are quite different from those of dogs and cats.
Dental Concerns
Because of their continuously growing teeth, rabbits and rodents are more prone to tooth misalignment and subsequent chewing difficulty or pain or teeth infections. Like dogs and cats, they can also suffer from broken teeth.
Dental Symptoms to Watch Out For
Is your pet rabbit or rodent drooling, pawing at its face, showing signs of a reduced appetite, losing weight, grinding its teeth? Rabbits and rodents are prey species which makes them hide symptoms of pain. If you notice dental symptoms in your rabbit or rodent, it likely means they have significant dental concerns. Monitor your pet for changes in appetite, abnormal chewing behaviour, or weight loss. Rabbits and rodents with dental problems may also drool, grind their teeth, drop food, or paw at their face.
Dental Treatment
Most dental treatments in rabbits and rodents involve burring or trimming their teeth to correct tooth misalignment. We must regularly repeat the procedure because their teeth continuously grow. Teeth with more advanced diseases may need an extraction to avoid potential systemic infection and pain.
Most dental treatments require some form of sedation or anesthesia, as, without it, the procedure can be pretty stressful for your pet. After the procedure, your pet may go home with pain killers or antibiotics, and they may need to eat special food for a while.
Cat, Dog, and Ferret Dentistry
Dental Concerns
There are several common dental problems in small mammals, and poor dental health can negatively impact dogs, cats, and ferrets in several ways. A scuffle with another pet or biting a hard surface could lead to a tooth falling out, breaking, or chipping. The resulting dental pulp exposure can cause significant pain when the animals use their mouths. Over time, tartar and plaque can build up, just as they do in humans. Infections in the jaw and gums are another issue that can lead to long-term dental illness.
Dental Symptoms to Watch Out For
If you think that your pet companion is having dental issues, then keep an eye out for your pet pawing at its mouth, even when it appears empty, a horrible stench coming from infected teeth and avoidance of eating or drinking. They may favour one side of the mouth for eating or may have different food bowl behaviour than usual. You’ll also want to watch your pet’s mood and behaviour. If they have mouth pain, then they could be more aggressive, fearful, or avoidant.
Dental Treatment for Pets
Pet dental treatment is relatively similar to human dentistry. Bring your pet in to see one of our talented veterinarians for a thorough mouth examination. Dental cleaning may be the only thing needed to get a furry friend ready to romp around again, or if required, we can schedule a more extensive treatment.
Most pet dental treatments in dogs, cats, and ferrets require some form of anesthesia since animals are not typically big fans of someone poking around in their mouth. Dental extractions are the most common procedure, which removes the problematic tooth so that it’s not causing pain. Following the surgery, your pet may need to take antibiotics or painkillers and eat soft food during the recovery process.
Reptile Dentistry
Although less common, reptiles can also suffer from dental disease. Symptoms may include swelling of the jaw, changes in eating behaviours or appetite, or weight loss. If you suspect your reptile has dental concerns, schedule an appointment with one of our skilled veterinarians for a dental assessment.
Dental Concerns
Reptiles come in all shapes and sizes, but oral health is important for them too! Bearded Dragons, for example, do not shed or regrow their teeth, which means they are prone to dental disease and infections. Leopard Geckos on the other hand do lose and regrow their teeth. This makes them resistant to dental infections, but they can develop other oral health concerns, such as mouth rot.
Dental Symptoms to Watch Out For
For Bearded Dragons, age and a diet high in fruit can predispose them to dental concerns. We also know that dental disease is often associated with other diseases in the body. The most common sign of mouth rot in Leopard Geckos is retained shed stuck at the sides of the mouth. Reptiles tend to have very subtle symptoms, so regular checkups and oral exams with a veterinarian are important to identify concerns early.
Dental Treatments
In Bearded Dragons we can perform dental assessments and cleanings like we do in dogs and cats. This removes the bacteria from the teeth and bone and allows us to perform an in-depth oral health assessment. Mouth rot in Leopard Geckos may be treated with topical anti-septic’s and making changes in their husbandry, such as adjusting their diet and humidity.
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