Pet Columns

It’s Time to Get Your Pet’s Teeth Cleaned

Nov 19, 2018 / Dentistry / Cats / Dogs

Brushing needs to be consistent to be useful Did you get your six-month appointment reminder from your dentist recently? It’s important to keep up on those appointments for your dental health, and it’s just as important that our pets get their teeth cleaned as well. Dr. Katherine Kling, part of the dentistry and oral surgery...

Horses Need to See the Dentist Too

Apr 21, 2018 / Dentistry / Preventive Health / Horses

A horse’s teeth should be examined every 6 months Just like cats and dogs, horses need oral examinations from veterinarians. The health of a horse’s mouth greatly impacts its well-being, behavior, and performance. Dr. Dennis French, a professor who heads the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the University of Illinois, has cared for many...

Big Cats, Little Cats Need a Dentist

Feb 16, 2018 / Dentistry / Cats / Exotics

Teeth Similar in Structure, Different in Care Dr. Katherine Kling is a veterinarian who typically sees dogs and cats through the dentistry service at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana. Recently Dr. Kling got the chance to use her dentistry skills on some high-profile patients: lions and tigers! She, along with veterinary...

When the Tooth Breaks, Your Pet Is in Pain

Nov 13, 2017 / Dentistry / Cats / Dogs

Fractured teeth always merit a trip to the veterinarian Teeth are amazingly strong! Nevertheless, when you consider that teeth are essential tools for your cat or dog, used not only for eating but for playing and picking things up, it’s not surprising that veterinarians routinely see broken teeth in their patients. “All types of dogs...

Brush Up on Dental Problems in Pet Rabbits

Sep 16, 2017 / Dentistry / Rabbits / Small Mammals

Rabbits’ teeth grow throughout their lifetime A diet of grass and hay is a real grind for your pet bunny’s teeth. That’s why rabbit teeth have evolved to grow continually, to accommodate the wear and tear of their coarse, fibrous food. According to Dr. Krista Keller, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching...

Cleft Palate Afflicts Pets Too

Jul 26, 2017 / Dentistry / Cats / Dogs

Normal Life Possible for Dogs with Palatal Defect “Every 3 minutes, a child is born with a cleft lip or cleft palate” begins the heartrending appeal for donations to ensure that these children have access to the relatively inexpensive and highly successful surgical repair that will restore their smile. Dogs can also be born with...

The Wild Side of Dental Health Month

Feb 15, 2016 / Dentistry / Wildlife

Dental problems can be fatal in wildlife February is National Pet Dental Health Month. For our pets, regular veterinary visits will address any dental problems, and rarely would these problems be life-threatening. But what about wild species? As Dr. Nichole Rosenhagen explains, dental problems that impair an animal’s ability to eat can be fatal in...

Nothing Beats Brushing for Pet’s Dental Health

Feb 1, 2016 / Dentistry / Cats / Dogs

February is National Pet Dental Health month Do you make brushing your teeth part of your daily routine? Can you imagine going to your annual visit to the dentist having done nothing to care for your teeth in the year since your last professional cleaning? Dr. Katherine Kling, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois...

Address Pet Dental Needs Early and Routinely

Apr 6, 2015 / Dentistry / Cats / Dogs

Dr. Kling recommends that owners brush their pet’s teeth Dental care is as important for the overall health of pets as it is for people. Dr. Katherine Kling, a veterinarian at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana, says periodontal disease, which refers to the breakdown of the support structures around the tooth,...