Dental disease is a disease that the entirety of the veterinary profession deals with. Most animals will develop tartar, gingivitis, and periodontal disease in their lifetime. It's important to know the signs to look for before the damage is irreversible.
Signs To Look For:
-Bad breath/halitosis
-Broken teeth
-Excessive drooling
-Reluctance to eat, especially dry hard food
-Chewing on one side of their mouth
-Pawing or rubbing at their mouth
-Blood in the mouth
-Swollen "bumps" on cheeks near underneath eyes
-Discolored teeth
At Home Care:
Have you ever actually looked in your dog/cat/s mouth? Even those teeth way in the back? Tartar tends to be the heaviest on the teeth in the back of the mouth - the premolars and molars. It's important to check their teeth out weekly so you start to notice any changes. Fractured teeth can lead to infection and inflammation, so be sure to check each tooth.
Start your pets off young in order to get them use to their mouth being touched/handled. Brushing their teeth 3-4 times a week, if not every day, can help. In most instances, dental disease is genetic and breed specific, so even if you are going any amazing job brushing their teeth, they may still develop tartar. When this happens, then your pet will need their teeth professionally cleaned.
Vet Care
Just like when you go to your dentist, dogs/cats/ferrets/guinea pigs/rabbits/horses sometimes need professional cleanings as well. No, there is not a good way to get rid of your pets' tartar with your pet still awake; they will need sedation. This allows us to get good dental radiographs/x-rays to look at the roots of their teeth and clean all the way in the back of their mouth. If the tartar or gingivitis is severe enough, sometimes extractions need to be made in order to prevent further infection. Your vet may send your pet home with antibiotics and pain medication depending on the severity. You and your pet will be very happy with the results afterwards! Here is a video made by another vet clinic that shows you the step by step process that most clinics perform: Dental cleaning
Treats
There are many types of "dental" treats out there, such as Greenies, that are said to help teeth, but won't actually do much. You want to look for products that have the VOHC (Veterinary Oral Health Council) seal of approval; here is a list: VOHC Accepted Products.
I personally use OraVet chews for my dogs, but be aware that these chews may cause your dog's poop to be green.
Rabbits and Horses
Yes, even rabbits and horses can develop dental disease. Diet takes a large role in the cause of dental disease in herbivores. Their teeth are constantly growing and periodically need to be filed down. They can develop ulcers and lesions on their tongue and cheeks if their teeth started to overgrow or become sharp. You will have a harder time looking into your rabbit/s mouth, but you can look for similar signs as listed above.
