Preventative Digital Veterinary Oral & Dental Health Care
“There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.”
— Bern Williams
Dog & Cat Dental Facts
Oral & Dental Health
At Highland Road Animal Hospital we offer state-of-the-art digital dental services. We will perform a dental exam along with your pet’s physical exam. Dental care is one of the most commonly overlooked areas of pet health.
Dog Dental Facts
- Puppies have 28 temporary teeth that surface at about three to four weeks of age. They have 42 permanent teeth that begin to emerge at about four months.
- Symptoms of gum disease in dogs include yellow and brown build-up of tartar along the gum line, inflamed gums and persistent bad breath.
- Broken teeth are a common problem especially among outdoor dogs.
Cat Dental Facts
- Kittens have 26 temporary teeth that begin to surface at about two to three weeks of age. They have 30 permanent teeth that begin to emerge at about three to four months.
- Symptoms of gum disease in cats include yellow and brown tartar buildup along the gum line, red inflamed gums, and persistent bad breath.
- The most common dental problem in domestic cats is tooth resorption lesions (loss of tooth structure).
Statistics indicate that preventing the disease of teeth and gums comes with regular dental check ups which can extend your pet’s life expectancy by two to four years. See for our Demonstration on Proper Tooth Care for your pet. You can also help accomplish this by brushing your pet’s teeth at home on a regular basis.
See our Home Dental Care Tips for your pets. One of the most convenient and effective ways to combat oral disease is feeding specially formulated foods proven effective in combating plaque and tartar buildup.
Dental tartar and the accompanying infection are not only painful but can eventually lead to heart, lung and kidney disease.Should you note problems with bad breath, broken teeth, tartar build-up, or changes in eating habits, bring your cat or dog in to see us for a complete dental exam.
Stage 1
Here is a healthy mouth with normal bacterial flora, sound gums, and minimal plaque buildup.
Stage 2
You can see the inflammation caused on the gum tissue from the bacterial buildup in the beginning stages of dental disease. While the teeth still appear somewhat healthy, the health of the mouth is starting to decline.
Stage 3
This shows an unhealthy oral cavity with unfavorable bacteria, gum and inner lip ulcerations, receding gums, root exposure, and plaque buildup. Some tooth loss is probable. This condition is probably painful.
Stage 4
This mouth is full of pus, bacteria, and disease. The teeth are falling out and the gums are severely inflamed and infected. The roots are infected and exposed. Tooth loss is eminent. This condition is painful.
