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Puppy and Kitten Dental Care
Wow, look at all those teeth. And are they not white. This is a comprehensive overview of what you have to look for and forward to with your new pets mouth.
Firstly, why care about your pets teeth. Well, we now know that oral disease is directly linked to overall wellness in the pet. Further, most oral disease is highly treatable and often preventable. So you have a determining role in the longevity and quality of your pets life by just caring for their mouth.
Here are some references to get you going.
A wonderful video on how to brush your cats teeth!
A great overview of pets dental care needs
A great video on how to brush your dogs teeth and more!
Here is a time oriented guideline for you to refer to for the next 6 months of your pet’s life and a list of things to check for and things to do!
8 – 10 weeks
Puppies have 28 primary teeth while kittens have 26. These should all be present by 12 weeks.
- tongue abnormalities
- palate abnormalities[eg cleft palate]
- malocclusions eg are the teeth and jaws lining up
- start rubbing the gums and looking in the mouth
12-14 week visit
- we should have all the primary teeth by now [count them!]
- again, are the teeth and jaws lining up. If not, we may recommend treatment now to prevent bigger issues to come if left.
- any broken teeth- if so these may need removal
- continue to rub all gum surfaces and to desensitize pet to oral examinations.
16-18 weeks
- adult teeth should be coming in
- any primary teeth not in? if so these may be delayed and need surgical help
- again, any broken teeth.
- continue to rub gums but now with Oral Gel or Dentifrice to help control the gingivitis associated with the eruption of the teeth
20-22 week visit
- are there persistent primary teeth? i.e. are there two teeth in one spot. If so, the primary tooth will need to be surgically removed.
- any broken teeth
At time of sterilization [most often about 6 months of age]:
(We recommend you have a formal oral examination prior to surgery to allow treatment planning for the day of surgery)
- count the permanent teeth. If there are any missing, these areas need to be radiographed to determine if tooth is unerupted and will need surgical help.
- if there are persistent primary teeth, then these MUST be removed surgically.
- if there is crowding of teeth or interference of teeth, then interventive care should be instituted to correct this and prevent further disease.
- are the molars showing pits and fissures that need to be sealed?
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