Do dogs really need their teeth cleaned by a vet?
Sigrid Schiller
2025-07-29 14:27:50
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: 10
While implementing an at-home oral care routine is important in that it helps control plaque and tartar buildup, visiting the vet regularly for a professional cleaning is the best way to keep your dog’s mouth clean and healthy. Without this yearly cleaning, plaque develops on the teeth. This can lead to bad breath, gingivitis, periodontal disease and - in severe forms - tooth loss. In addition, this can have very real consequences for your pooch’s overall health, as periodontal disease can lead to heart disease. We recommend scheduling an annual dental appointment for your dog, and bringing them in more frequently if they are prone to dental problems. Dental care is an essential part of your pet's overall health.
Destini Thiel
2025-07-29 12:36:35
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Ask your vet first - before you start cleaning your dog's teeth, it's always best to ask your vet to show you the best way to do this. If you find your dog has dental disease, only carry out treatment under the direction of your vet. Your dog will most likely need sedation or a general anaesthetic to properly examine their mouth. If the affected teeth aren't too bad, they would be scaled and polished to remove mineral deposits. With more severe cases, such as fractured or loose teeth, they may need to be removed. Ask your vet for advice first before feeding your dog bones, and supervise them if and when they do eat them. Brush your dog's teeth regularly. Dental chews and treats are also a good way of helping to keep your dog's teeth clean.
Lennie Marquardt
2025-07-29 11:40:06
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: 16
While it’s critically important to maintain an at-home oral care routine to avoid plaque and tartar buildup, it’s best to visit the vet on a regular basis for a professional cleaning. This will help keep your dog’s mouth clean and healthy. Without this annual checkup and cleaning, your pooch’s teeth can get covered in plaque, which leads to bad breath and gingivitis. Left unchecked, this develops into periodontal disease that can result in tooth loss and bone loss in its most severe forms. As you might imagine, losing teeth and jawbone can have serious consequences for your dog’s overall health. Not only will eating be impeded, but periodontal disease can lead to heart disease as bacteria enters the bloodstream via the mouth, and infects other organs. We recommend that your dog come in once per year for an annual dental checkup. They may need to see us more frequently if they are prone to dental issues. Dental care is critical to your pet’s overall physical health.
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