Houston Veterinarian Clinic

Pet Orthodontics

A pet's teeth are as important as a person's teeth. For this reason, it is important to keep a pet's teeth healthy. This is done by brushing the pet's teeth and allowing him or her plenty of time to chew on things for cleaning. Unfortunately, dogs and cats frequently have problems with their teeth that cannot be corrected by a tooth brush. These problems generally involve poorly placed teeth.

In the majority of breeds of both cats and dogs, the teeth are arranged in an arch, "shoulder to shoulder." There is a self-cleaning mechanism that is part of the arch of the teeth. This is designed to push food away from the teeth and the gums.

Unfortunately, selective breeding in many breeds has led to muzzles that are too narrow to accommodate all of an animal's teeth correctly. This can lead to a number of painful and worrisome dental problems. In people, a poor bite can cause numerous health problems, not all of which affect the teeth. The same holds true for dogs and cats. When the arch does not sit correctly in the mouth, food can remain trapped against the teeth, which leads to decay of the teeth and gum disease.

A common solution for dogs with severe dental problems is orthodontia. The practice works in a way that is very similar to orthodontia for people. Brackets are affixed to the teeth and they gradually correct a dog or cat's bite problems.

Contact a Houston Veterinarian

For more information on pet orthodontia, contact your Houston veterinarian clinic.