Veterinarians Who Value Pet Dental Health

All of our patients have teeth, and nearly 85% of them have periodontal or dental disease. This is a large amount! We can do better at preventing dental problems in our patients in several ways. At home care is essential if you want to keep your puppy's teeth pearly white and breath smelling fresh! Plaque must be removed daily or it will build up at the gum line and turn into tartar. Tartar damages the periodontal ligament that holds the tooth in place. This leads to gingivitis, infection, loose teeth, and infection below the gumline that causes boneloss.

Brush your dog's teeth daily with a finger brush and special canine toothpaste. You may also use a soft bristled child's toothbrush. Most dogs will tolerate tooth brushing if trained with positive reinforcement (think treats!). Here is a video demonstrating how to brush your pet's teeth.

Hard, dry food will help remove plaque from the teeth. For owners who cannot brush or for animals that have a tendency to build plaque quickly, several diets are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) to help keep dogs and cat’s teeth clean. These include Hill's Science Diet t/d and Royal Canin Dental. CET chews are also recommended by veterinary dentists and have been shown to be beneficial, though no controlled studies have been performed. CET toothpastes and chews contain enzymes that help kill the bacteria associated with plaque. OraVet chews are our preferred option and have been shown to reduce plaque and calculus, and prevent bacterial attachment. OraVet chews contain delmopinol, which actually breaks down existing plaque so that it can be removed by brushing or chewing.

Dentistry at Warwick - Digital X-rays

Dental procedures are performed almost daily at Warwick.  Each pet is different, and some need a straightforward scaling and polishing, while others need dental radiographs and oral surgery. Your pet will be completely under anesthesia for us to safely examine the mouth, take radiographs, and perform the dental procedures.