Photo: Lily the Yorkshire Terrier (© Coquet Vets, 2025)
Dental disease is very common in dogs, and it is estimated that over 80% of our pets are affected by dental disease. Poor dental health can be painful, and if there is infection present, this can challenge the immune system. Unfortunately, this can go undetected and untreated.
Symptoms of dental disease include bad breath, bleeding gums, difficulty eating, and pawing at the face. However, as many dogs show no obvious signs, their owners may not even realise that their pet has dental issues.
We recently performed a dental procedure on an 8-year-old Yorkshire Terrier named Lily. Lily needed 3 teeth removed due to the calculus buildup and gingivitis present. Calculus is the hardened brown/yellow crust on pets’ teeth. If plaque is not removed by brushing, it hardens into calculus. This causes gum inflammation and bad breath, which can lead to tooth decay.
Lily also had 3 tooth root remnants removed. Tooth root remnants are fragments of a tooth root that are left after an incomplete extraction or trauma. These can lead to inflammation, chronic pain, and even systemic illness.
As Lily is almost 9 years old, we ran some preoperative blood tests to check her liver and kidney function. These blood tests assessed Lily’s suitability to be anaesthetised and would have highlighted any underlying issues. These preoperative blood tests are important in geriatric patients, as the results allow the vet to adjust the anaesthetic and treatment plan to minimise risk.
Find out more here about why we recommend that a blood test is performed before a procedure and why this might be important for your pet.
We are pleased to share that Lily’s dental procedure was a success, and she is recovering nicely at home with her sister Lola.
Don’t forget that Coquet Vets offers free-of-charge pet dental checks for all our clients. Our vet will check your pet’s mouth (as much as they let us) and discuss any recommended treatments or procedures that may be needed. Often, this is just some dental home care, which we can advise on and help you with.
If this article has raised any concerns about your dog’s teeth, or you would like to arrange a free dental check-up appointment for your pet, please call us at Coquet Vets on 01665 252250.
Promotion: Dental Month - Get up to 15% off over September
Over the month of September, you can get up to 15% off the full cost of a dental procedure at Coquet Vets, (Terms and conditions apply.)
