Have you ever wondered why your pet's breath smells so bad? Many people just think it's “normal” for animals to have bad breath. The truth is that the cause of the bad smell is due to the plaque build up on their teeth, leading to an overgrowth of bacteria in their mouths. This can eventually leads to severe dental disease.

Approximately 80% of pets have some form of dental disease by the age of four years old.

You should be keeping a close eye on your pets dental hygiene. Clinical signs of dental problems include plaque and tartar build up, reddened gums or gingivitis, excessive salivation, chattering teeth and having difficulty eating their food or favoring one side of the mouth. There have been documented research to show that adequate and frequent dental care can add up to four years to your pets life. Good oral hygiene is also important to the health of major organs as your pet ages. Plaque can build up very quickly so regular check-ups are important in maintaining oral health.

Ipswich Family Veterinary Clinic offer the highest standard of care during pets dental procedures. We have similar equipment that you would find at a human dentist clinic. When your pet is having a full dental scale and polish done, this is done under a general anesthetic. We thoroughly examine your pets teeth, gums and mouth in this time, and we ensure that your pet will be completely comfortable throughout their dental procedure.

We like to show you the difference dental procedure does for your pets teeth, so we may take a before and after photo.

Ipswich Family Veterinary Clinic offers FREE DENTAL EXAMINATION, so next time you think your pet has a bit of bad odor from their mouth or have any concerns at all, come to Ipswich Family Veterinary Clinic and let us have a look at your pet's smiley teeth.