Rabbits Archives - Castle Vets Dorchester

How Do I Know if My Pet Has Dental Problems?

Why Dental Health Matters for Your Pet

Good dental health is essential for your pet’s overall well-being. Dental disease is common in cats, dogs, and rabbits, and if left untreated, it can cause pain, infections, and even impact other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys. Recognising the signs of dental problems early can help prevent serious health issues and keep your pet happy and healthy.

Signs Your Pet May Have Dental Problems

Bad Breath (Halitosis): Persistent foul-smelling breath can indicate dental disease, such as gum infections or tooth decay.

Difficulty Eating or Chewing: If your pet is reluctant to eat, chews on one side, or avoids hard food, it may be experiencing dental pain.

Excessive Drooling: Thick saliva or saliva with blood may be a sign of oral discomfort or infection.

Swollen or Bleeding Gums: Red, swollen, or bleeding gums can indicate gingivitis or severe periodontal disease.

Loose or Broken Teeth: Wobbly or visibly damaged teeth may indicate advanced dental disease.

Pawing at the Mouth or Face: Pets may paw at their mouth or rub their face due to discomfort.

Weight Loss or Behavioural Changes: Avoiding food, losing weight, or becoming withdrawn may indicate dental pain.

Facial Swelling (Rabbits & Some Dogs): Swelling around the jaw or face may indicate an abscess or infection.

How to Prevent Dental Problems in Pets

For Cats and Dogs:

Brush Their Teeth Regularly: Use a pet-specific toothbrush and toothpaste to prevent gum disease.

Provide Dental Treats & Chews: Helps reduce plaque and tartar build-up between brushings.

Schedule Regular Vet Check-Ups: Annual exams catch issues early before they become serious.

Monitor Eating Habits: Any changes in eating behaviour should be noted and discussed with your vet.

For Rabbits:

Feed a High-Fibre Diet: Hay should make up most of their diet to wear down their continuously growing teeth.

Check for Overgrown Teeth: Misaligned or overgrown teeth require veterinary attention.

Look for Drooling & Weight Loss: Early warning signs of dental problems.

Top Tips for Keeping Your Pet’s Teeth Healthy:

✅ Brush regularly with pet-safe toothpaste
✅ Provide appropriate dental chews and a species-appropriate diet
✅ Schedule regular dental check-ups
✅ Watch for signs of dental problems like bad breath or difficulty eating

How can our practice help?

We provide comprehensive dental care for cats, dogs, and rabbits, including professional cleanings, extractions, and preventative advice. The Castle Club includes regular check-ups and dental procedure discounts to help keep your pet’s teeth in top condition.

Pets and Fireworks | Top Tips To Help Pets Scared of Fireworks

Pets and Fireworks – Why Noise Annoys, and How Fears Can Turn Into Life-Limiting Phobias

Around 60% of our furry friends become agitated and afraid whilst fireworks are going off, so aside from being unpleasant for both them and your family, it’s little surprise that statistically more pets are reported missing on bonfire night than any other night during the year.

If the fear isn’t dealt with, it can quickly turn into a phobia. This is a lot more severe than anxiety and is defined as a persistent, excessive, and irrational fear response. It WILL NOT go away without help. Your dog isn’t going to grow out of it or get used to it and minor anxiety can quickly turn into a fear of thunder, then fear of sudden noise like people calling out in the street, or doors closing, and severely restrict their enjoyment of life – and yours. Scared dogs make difficult companions.

If you feel your pet would benefit from extra help, remember that Castle Club members benefit from unlimited behaviour and training advice, which includes help with anxious pets, training and anything else you may need. (Not a member yet? Click here to read the full list of year-round benefits)

No one knows why pets develop fears and phobias, but it is known that dogs who have separation anxiety often also develop a fear of noise, so if you have a nervous puppy be extra vigilant for the early signs of noise fear.

The signs are different in all animals but can often include:

Hiding (cats like to do this more than dogs)
Urinating and defecating around the house in otherwise house-trained animals
Chewing
Panting
Pacing
Trying to escape (digging, trying to get out through windows, running away)
Dribbling
Over-dependence on the owner
Loss of appetite
Ignoring commands
Trembling or shaking
Uncharacteristic barking or meowing

Although it sounds wrong, it is important to try NOT to comfort nervous pets whilst they’re showing signs of fear or anxiety as it both rewards a fearful response and reinforces their belief that there is something to be fearful of. Animals will also pick up on your anxiety which can make the problem worse, so try to remain calm and relaxed and carry on as if nothing is happening. Never punish your pet for fearful behaviour either, as they will associate the fear they feel with punishment and it will justify their fear to them.

Keep this information handy

If you have a potentially anxious pet – although it is generally a sensible list to keep handy – you should have the following information readily available to you during firework season. Storing it on your phone is a good way to do this.

You should note down:

Your pet’s microchip number/microchip database (microchips are now a legal requirement in dogs)
Local dog warden’s number
Local police contact
A clear photograph of your pet
Access to missing pet websites

Be aware that fireworks night is not just a night! As the date falls on a weekday this year, events will take place on the weekends either side and fireworks are sold well in advance of November 5th until after News Year’s Eve. If your pet is sensitive to them you need to ACT NOW to save them several months of distress.

What can I do?!

Download our FREE guide!

You can download our handy guide on Firework Fears and Phobias where we detail what you can do to help your cats, dogs, rabbits and other small animals during the weeks before and the day of the event. It’s packed with good ideas and will help get your pet through this potentially stressful time.

If you think your pet suffers from more than just minor anxiety or would like to discuss any behavioural issues, book an appointment to come and chat to us about it. We can offer behavioural consultations, supplements and plug-ins to help calm them, and in really bad situations we can prescribe sedatives.

Don’t let your pet suffer unnecessary anxiety.

To find out more and book an appointment, call the practice on 01698 361 136

Remember…

Castle Club members benefit from unlimited behaviour and training advice, which includes help with anxious pets, training and anything else you may need. (Not a member yet? Click here to read the full list of year-round benefits)

Health Benefits of Veterinary Acupuncture for Pets

Did you know that pets, as well as people, can respond really well to acupuncture?

We’re delighted to now be able to offer this ancient Chinese therapy as a holistic supplement to traditional veterinary care. Veterinary acupuncture can be particularly useful when dealing with mobility issues, chronic pain conditions such as joint pain, and gastrointestinal issues. It’s an ideal treatment for older, geriatric pets who can find the therapy quiet calming, although it’s a useful complementary treatment for all life-stages.

Veterinary acupuncture is thought to work in a few different ways:

It can stimulate the release of the pain relieving and anti-inflammatory chemicals as well as relax muscles at the site of the needle insertion, causing both local and more generalised pain relief
Veterinary acupuncture can improve blood flow to tissue, increase oxygenation and remove metabolic waste and toxins
Unlike prescription drugs, there are no potential adverse side effects. It can also safely be used in conjunction with traditional vet medicine

Vet Alice Moore, who joined us in April, has been treating patients with acupuncture for a number of years.

“I find veterinary acupuncture to be useful in treating a whole range of conditions” says Alice. “Owners are often surprised that cats, dogs and rabbits all tolerate acupuncture really well and I have used it to treat back pain, arthritis, bladder problems and all sorts of lameness issues”

Here are some photos of Raz and Monty who are both being treated at our Dorchester clinic.

If you think your pet might benefit from veterinary acupuncture or are just interested to learn more, contact us on 01305 267083 or using Petsapp