Are there chew toys that can work to also “brush” my cat’s teeth? - Horizon Animal Hospital
There are some chew items out there. However, we focus predominantly on brushing and periodic dental cleanings through the veterinarian.
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Can cats get cavities? - Horizon Animal Hospital
Cats don't get true cavities or caries, as they're called in the human world, but they do get some lesions called odontoclastic resorptive lesions. This is a unique issue that predominantly happens with cats, which act very much like cavities where the actual tooth enamel and the dentin becomes resorbed. They can become very fragile and be painful for the cat.
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Do I still need to brush my cat’s teeth if I give them Greenies? - Horizon Animal Hospital
Yes, chew items, like greenies, are good to help remove the tartar, but brushing the teeth provides a more abrasive action, removing some of that biofilm and the bacteria that form on the teeth.
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Can I use human toothpaste on my cat? - Horizon Animal Hospital
Human toothpaste is not recommended for cats. Typically, they don't like mint flavorings, so we use specific toothpaste for cats that usually come in more palatable flavorings, like tuna.
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Are there any tips for making brushing my cat’s teeth easier? - Horizon Animal Hospital
One of the things is, early in life, trying to get cats accustomed to touching their mouth and lifting their lip up. Those are some things that can be helpful. If that acclimation to teeth brushing has not been done prior, you can always try to give them a treat or something afterwards, making it a rewarding procedure.
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How often should I brush my cat’s teeth? - Horizon Animal Hospital
The best thing to do is to brush the cat's teeth as often as you can. Every day is ideal, but as often as you can is certainly a good goal to achieve.
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Why would my dog need extractions? - Horizon Animal Hospital
Extractions are necessary if there are abscesses, if the tooth is fractured with exposure to the pulp cavity, or if there's bone loss involving one of the roots. Usually, a tooth needs to be extracted if there's more than 50% of bone loss.
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Are issues addressed during my dog’s initial oral exam, or do I need to schedule a follow-up appointment? - Horizon Animal Hospital
The initial oral exam, done without anesthesia, helps us determine if a dental cleaning under anesthesia is needed. So, a follow-up appointment would usually be required for this purpose.
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Why does my dog need X-rays? - Horizon Animal Hospital
X-rays help us to evaluate below the gum line, which is often where the disease process occurs. They allow us to check for bone loss and bad roots. Sometimes a tooth may have multiple roots and it may feel solid but there's actually a bad root, which would necessitate the removal of that tooth.
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