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A common concern we receive at Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery is whether it is safe to provide dental care to older pets. This is an understandable concern, particularly due to the risk of anesthesia in older dogs and cats, and I would like to discuss why dental care is necessary for older pets. 

While many pet owners may assume periodontal (advanced gum) disease is most common in senior pets, the reality is that it affects more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over three years of age. And in most cases, the smaller the pet, the sooner periodontal disease begins to cause problems.

Periodontal disease is the inflammation and infection of the tissues around the tooth. When untreated, this can be cause for a dog or cat to lose one, multiple or even ALL their remaining teeth. At Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery, a common question our pet owners ask is, “How does my dog or cat eat without any teeth?”

A “chipped” tooth is a term used to describe a crown fracture in which the outer layer (enamel)  of your dog’s tooth has been fractured, exposing the underlying dentin.  To some, these “chip” fractures may seem insignificant, however, this is often not the case.