Unfortunately, dental disease is extremely common in dogs due to a combination of dietary and genetic factors. It’s important to look after your dog’s teeth on a daily basis and also have regular dental check-ups with your vet.
Without doubt the most effective way to look after your dog’s teeth is to brush them. This is the best way to prevent plaque, tartar build-up and subsequent painful dental disease in your pet.
Introducing dental checks and scale and polish treatments into your dog’s life might be daunting but it’s vital to ensure they’re healthy.
It’s important to take care of your dog's oral health – which is why we offer free dental advice and urge you to be vigilant when looking after your dog’s teeth.
If your dog already has a build-up of tartar on their teeth, brushing alone won't be enough, they will require a dental scale and polish first.
What is involved during a dog’s scale and polish procedure?
When performing a scale and polish the aim is to rid the tooth surface of any plaque and this includes the area of tooth that is just underneath the gum line. This is a very delicate area which can be easily damaged, which is why patients must be anaesthetised for the procedure.
Once all the teeth have been scaled, they’re finished off with a polish to smooth over the tooth surface, which helps to prevent plaque from building up.
How long does a scale and polish take for a dog?
This depends on the amount of descaling and treatment that is required, we admit them for a full day and times do vary a lot – it is dependant on patient and the severity.
Dental health checks for dogs
We would recommend an oral health for your dog check every 6 -12months. Dental disease is progressive; it won’t go away without help so will only get worse. That is why taking preventative measures is so important.
Our vets and nurses will be able to advise you what treatment is best for your pet at one of our free dental clinics, which are available at all 12 of our branches.
We also have British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA) and British Veterinary Dental Association (BVDA) certified oral care nurses at our practices to ensure pets receive gold standard dental care from examination right through to treatment.
Call your local Calder Vets branch for a free dental check appointment
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