Most pet owners don’t think about their dog’s or cat’s teeth until something is clearly wrong. A broken tooth, really bad breath, or a sudden refusal to eat. By that point, the problem has usually been building for months, sometimes years. And that’s exactly why pet dental care in Abbotsford deserves more attention than it typically gets.
The numbers paint a pretty stark picture. Periodontal disease affects up to 80% of dogs and 70% of cats by just two years of age. That’s not a typo. And only about 16% of Canadian pet owners are actively looking after their pet’s teeth. There’s a real gap between how common dental problems are and how many of us are doing something about it.
So if you’ve never thought much about your pet’s oral health, you’re not alone. But there’s a lot you can do, and the earlier you start, the better.
What Dental Disease Actually Looks Like in Pets
Here’s the tricky part: most pets won’t tell you their mouth hurts. Owners often only realize dental issues exist when their pet’s breath becomes noticeably bad, which they tend to write off as normal. But bad breath in dogs and cats is almost never “just a dog thing.” It usually signals bacteria, plaque, or infection building up along the gumline.
Signs like dropping food, eating only on one side of the mouth, being less interested in toys, or wolfing food down without chewing are common indicators of oral pain. Pets are incredibly good at adapting and masking discomfort, so these clues can be easy to miss unless you’re looking for them.
Periodontal disease starts with plaque forming on the tooth surface. If it isn’t cleaned away, plaque can re-form within 24 hours, even on a freshly cleaned tooth. Over time, that plaque hardens into tartar, irritates the gums, and begins to work its way below the gumline, which is where the real damage starts. Left alone, it can lead to gum recession, bone loss, tooth loss, and in serious cases, bacteria entering the bloodstream and affecting the heart, liver, and kidneys.
The takeaway here isn’t meant to scare anyone. It’s that catching things early through regular veterinary dental checkups and basic home care makes a real, measurable difference.
Why Abbotsford Pet Parents Should Pay Attention
Abbotsford has a growing community of pet owners, and the demand for pet care in Abbotsford has risen steadily over the past few years. But awareness around dental health still lags behind other areas of pet wellness like vaccinations and parasite control.
Part of the problem is cost perception. About 65% of Canadian pet owners have reported finding dental procedures too expensive. Routine dental cleanings for pets in Canada can range from approximately $300 to $1,000, depending on the clinic and complexity. That’s not insignificant. But here’s the catch: the longer you wait, the more expensive it gets. A preventive cleaning once a year costs far less than emergency extractions and oral surgery down the road.
Clinics like Alpha Animal Hospital understand this concern and work with pet parents to develop plans that make preventive dental care more manageable, both for your pet and your budget.
What a Professional Pet Dental Cleaning Involves
If you’ve never had your dog or cat’s teeth professionally cleaned, here’s roughly what happens. The process begins with a thorough physical exam, pre-anesthetic bloodwork, and an awake oral assessment. Then, under general anesthesia with continuous monitoring, a full visual exam is performed, tartar is scaled from the teeth, gum pockets are measured, and full-mouth dental X-rays are taken.
Yes, anesthesia is required. That’s something a lot of pet parents feel uneasy about, and that hesitation is understandable. But here’s why it matters: subgingival plaque, the kind that forms below the gumline and does the most damage, simply can’t be addressed properly without anesthesia. That’s also why “anesthesia-free” dental cleanings, while they might make the teeth look better on the surface, don’t actually treat or prevent periodontal disease. They only address what you can see.
A proper veterinary dental cleaning addresses what you can’t see, which is where the disease actually lives.
What You Can Do at Home Between Cleanings
Professional cleanings are only part of the equation. What you do at home between those visits plays a huge role in how your pet’s oral health holds up over time.
Daily toothbrushing is the gold standard. Brushing every other day has not proven effective at controlling gingivitis, so daily brushing is ideal. If that’s not realistic for your household, aiming for at least three times per week is considered the minimum for dogs in good oral health.
A few practical tips that tend to work well for pet owners in Abbotsford and the Fraser Valley:
Start slow. Let your pet sniff and taste the pet-safe toothpaste first. Run your finger along their gums before introducing a brush. Rushing this process usually backfires.
Use the right tools. Human toothpaste often contains ingredients like xylitol and fluoride that are harmful to pets if swallowed. Stick with veterinary toothpaste formulated for dogs or cats.
Be consistent. Even a quick 30-second brush along the outer surfaces of the teeth each day is better than a thorough scrub once a month. Plaque doesn’t wait around for you to find time.
Dental chews and water additives can supplement brushing, but they’re not replacements. Tartar control treats like dental chews reduce plaque by roughly 10 to 15%. That helps, but it’s a supporting act, not the main performance.
Smaller Breeds Need Even More Attention
If you have a smaller breed dog, like a Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, or Shih Tzu, dental care becomes even more pressing. Small and toy breed dogs are particularly susceptible to periodontal disease. Their teeth are often crowded into a smaller jaw, which creates more crevices where plaque and bacteria accumulate.
Even with the very best effort, it’s rare for a dog weighing under 10 pounds or of a susceptible breed to still retain all its teeth by age ten. That’s not meant to discourage anyone. It just means that for small breed owners, consistent home care and more frequent veterinary dental checkups, perhaps twice yearly instead of annually, are well worth it.
The Connection Between Dental Health and Overall Wellness
This isn’t a stretch or an exaggeration. Chronic dental infections don’t stay limited to the mouth. Advanced periodontitis allows bacteria to reach the bloodstream, which can lead to systemic diseases affecting the heart, liver, and kidneys.
Even gingivitis, without any periodontal bone loss yet, can create systemic consequences. That’s why many vets strongly recommend professional dental care for pets with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, kidney disease, or heart murmurs. The dental cleaning actually benefits their overall health.
Thinking of pet dental care in Abbotsford as just a “mouth thing” undersells what it really is: a core part of your pet’s long-term wellness.
When to Talk to Your Vet
You don’t need to wait for visible problems. If your dog or cat has persistent bad breath, redness or swelling along the gumline, visible tartar buildup, bleeding when eating, or any changes in eating habits, it’s time for a dental assessment.
Even if nothing looks wrong, an annual pet wellness exam that includes an oral evaluation is a good baseline. Alpha Animal Hospital and other clinics offering dog and cat care services in the Abbotsford area can help you figure out where your pet stands and what steps make sense going forward.
The bottom line is pretty straightforward: dental disease in pets is incredibly common, largely preventable, and far easier to manage early than it is to treat once it’s advanced. A little attention now saves your pet pain and saves you money later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should my pet have a dental checkup? Most veterinarians recommend an oral evaluation at least once a year as part of a routine wellness exam. Small breed dogs and senior pets may benefit from checkups every six months.
Is anesthesia safe for pet dental cleanings? Modern veterinary anesthesia is generally very safe, especially with pre-anesthetic bloodwork and continuous monitoring during the procedure. The risks of untreated dental disease typically outweigh the risks of anesthesia for most pets.
What are the first signs of dental disease in dogs and cats? Bad breath is often the earliest noticeable sign. Other indicators include red or swollen gums, visible tartar on the teeth, difficulty eating, pawing at the mouth, and drooling more than usual.
Can I brush my pet’s teeth at home? Yes, and it’s strongly encouraged. Daily brushing with a pet-safe toothpaste is the most effective way to reduce plaque buildup between professional cleanings. Start slowly and be patient as your pet gets used to it.
How much does a pet dental cleaning cost in Canada? Costs vary by clinic and the condition of your pet’s teeth, but routine cleanings in Canada generally range from $300 to $1,000. Complex procedures involving extractions or oral surgery can cost more.
Why does my dog have bad breath? Persistent bad breath in dogs is usually a sign of bacterial buildup, plaque, or dental infection. It’s not a normal part of ageing and should be evaluated by your veterinarian.