Veterinary Dental Care
A healthy mouth is an essential part of keeping your pet’s health in good shape. Our team at Portland Vets understand the significance of oral hygiene in our furry companions and endeavour to educate owners on how they can help at home.
If you are concerned about your pet’s oral health or would like to learn more about practical ways you can help, contact our team today.
Dental care at Portland
If, after a thorough examination, your pet is in need of dental treatment, you can rest assured that our team of vets and nurses have purpose-built surgical facilities and advanced diagnostic and dental equipment at our Horley clinic.
All of our dental procedures are completed under general anaesthesia, and the most common dental issues we see can be helped with a scale, polish or extraction (if the tooth in question cannot be saved).
Our team provide each pet with a tailored recovery plan and are happy to answer any questions you may have.
We also offer surgical tooth extraction and nerve block LA.
Read our dental handout for more information about the dental procedures we perform and the costs involved.
Dogs & Cats
Both dogs and cats would benefit from regular teeth cleaning at home, something our nursing team can advise and demonstrate for you. Each of our clinics sell a ‘dental pack’ including a pet toothbrush, finger brushes for sensitive gums and beef flavour enzymatic toothpaste, for £11.89. If you would like to purchase a pack then contact our reception team who will be happy to help.
Rabbits & Small Furries
We recommend annual dental checks for rabbits and guinea pigs as throughout their lifetime their teeth never stop growing. This often leads to discomfort. It is vital both their incisor and molar teeth are in optimal condition to help avoid the need for medical intervention – regular check-ups can help with this. These can be done at our nursing clinics where one of our experienced veterinary nurses can examine and also provide advice on your small furry pet’s mouth.
Dental problems in rabbits and small furries can become an emergency problem very quickly if their appetite and ability to eat becomes affected.
Normal Incisors VS Overgrown Incisors
More about dental problems & procedures for rabbits & guinea pigs
As rabbit and guinea pigs’ teeth continuously grow throughout life, if their teeth are growing at abnormal angles problems can recur multiple times.
Rabbits & guinea pigs keep their teeth in shape and at the correct level by grinding on grass and hay.
If the teeth are not aligned correctly or if there is little opportunity to grind, the teeth become deformed. The teeth form sharp spurs which then start cutting into the mouth and tongue causing ulcers and infection. This then leads to difficulty eating and severe digestive problems that may be fatal.
Indications of this problem are poor appetite, weight loss, salivation/dribbling, abscesses around the jaw/face, eye infections and matted droppings around the hindquarters.
What does dental treatment in rabbits involve?
Your vet will have recommended dental treatment if, on examination, your rabbit has overgrown incisors (front teeth) or has sharp spurs or abnormal growth of the back (cheek) teeth, that are causing your rabbit discomfort, or stopping them from eating due to pain.
Dental treatment for your rabbit requires a general anaesthetic in order to fully assess their mouth. As rabbits have sensitive guts we always give our rabbit patient’s medications which support healthy gut movement before, during and after any anaesthetic. We always recommend performing dental x-rays in order to assess what is going on below the gum line, to check for any dental abscesses and to assess the tooth roots. After performing the x-rays we then burr down any sharp edges or shorten overgrown incisors, depending on what is required.
