Jessamy Alexander has been a vet for 18 years and dealt with small animal dentistry for about a decade.
She says 80 per cent of cats and dogs have issues with their teeth, which can cause chronic pain that isn't easily detected by owners.
In a worst case scenario, that can lead to having every tooth removed from the animal's mouth, she said.
“It's a niche area but a lot more common than people think,” Dr Alexander said.
“Periodontal disease is the most common infectious disease of adult dogs . . . it can result in chronic infection.”
Dr Alexander said despite owners brushing their animals’ teeth daily, they could still have dental disease.
But the good news is she said it was preventable.
“We encourage owners to get their animals checked as soon as their teeth come through. . . then annually after that, depending on the type of dog and what the vet recommends following the first examination,” she said.
Dr Alexander said there were some dog breeds susceptible to dental disease, including boxers, who were more likely to get plaque build-up and alcerations.
Short-faced dogs, such as pugs, French bulldogs and Maltese dogs are also more likely to have an over-crowded mouth.
Dr Alexander said while it was rare for a dog or cat to die from dental disease, the pain could be excruciating.
“A lot of owners think pets will stop eating if they have dental issues but it's rare for that to happen,” she said.
“Like humans, dogs and cats can eat on one side of their mouths so it's not always easy to tell . . . early prevention is key though.
“It's not common for dogs or cats to die from it but the biggest concern is chronic pain through silence.”
Dr Alexander is based at Fur Life Vet Shepparton, which offers free dental cleans. For more information, phone (03) 4804 6444.
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