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Pet dental awareness month
As part of Pet Dental Awareness Month, we are encouraging owners to prioritise their pet’s oral health. To support this, we are offering a discount of at least £100 on scale and polish dental procedures throughout this promotional period.
This offer makes now the perfect time to take proactive steps toward improving your pet’s dental health, preventing disease, and ensuring their comfort and quality of life.
🦷 Offer valid until 28th February on all procedures booked by April 30th (t&c’s below)
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Pet Dental Health: Why Oral Care Matters for Your Pet
Pet dental health is a vital part of your pet’s overall wellbeing, yet it is one of the most commonly overlooked aspects of routine care. Just like humans, pets rely on healthy teeth and gums to eat comfortably, stay pain-free, and avoid serious health complications. Dental disease doesn’t only affect the mouth — it can cause, or be caused by, wider health problems involving the heart, liver, kidneys, and immune system.
Regular veterinary dental checks help identify problems early, before they become painful or costly. Your pet’s teeth and gums should be examined at least once a year by your veterinarian to support lifelong oral health and overall wellbeing.
What Is a Scale and Polish?
A scale and polish is a professional pet dental procedure carried out under general anaesthetic. It involves removing plaque and tartar from your pet’s teeth, followed by polishing to smooth the tooth surface and slow down future plaque build-up.
Much like a hygienist appointment for humans, this procedure cleans areas that are difficult — or impossible — to reach with home dental care alone. Because pets cannot remain still or follow instructions, a general anaesthetic is required to ensure their safety and comfort.
During a scale and polish, your veterinarian can carefully examine every tooth, including below the gum line where dental disease often begins. This makes the procedure a key part of maintaining long-term pet dental health.
Dogs have 42 teeth and cats have 30, meaning this is a detailed and time-intensive process that requires specialist equipment and trained veterinary staff.
Why Is a Scale and Polish Recommended?
Many pets suffer from dental disease without their owners realising. Pet dental awareness is so important because signs are often subtle until the problem becomes advanced.
A scale and polish may be recommended if your pet has:
Bad breath
Visible tartar build-up
Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
Difficulty eating or chewing
Signs of mouth pain or discomfort
Oral Health in Dogs and Cats
Your pet’s teeth should be checked at least once a year by your veterinarian. You should arrange a dental check sooner if you notice any of the following:
Persistent bad breath
Broken, loose, or missing teeth
Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
Discoloured teeth or heavy tartar
Drooling or dropping food
Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
Bleeding from the mouth
Swelling around the mouth or face
Some pets may also become irritable or withdrawn when experiencing dental pain. Always take care when checking your pet’s mouth, as a painful animal may bite.
Some pets become irritable when they have dental problems, and any changes in your pet’s behaviour should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. Always be careful when evaluating your pet’s mouth, because a painful animal may bite.
Why Pet Dental Health Matters
Pet dental care is a crucial part of everyday pet care — yet it’s often overlooked. While brushing our own teeth is second nature, many owners forget to brush their pet’s teeth regularly.
Studies suggest:
38% of dog owners never brush their dog’s teeth
44% brush occasionally
Only 18% brush at least once a week
Pet Dental Awareness Month is the perfect time to highlight common dental problems and how they can be prevented.
Did You Know?
Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease is one of the most common dental conditions in pets. It begins when plaque bacteria cause inflammation of the gums (gingivitis). If untreated, infection spreads deeper, damaging the bone around the tooth roots and often leading to tooth loss or extraction.
Common signs of periodontal disease include:
Bad breath
Bleeding gums
Loose or missing teeth
Excessive drooling
Chewing on one side of the mouth
The good news? Plaque can be removed with regular pet dental home care, and gingivitis can be reversed if caught early.
Fight Dental Disease in 3 Easy Steps
✔ Twice-yearly health checks
✔ Regular tooth brushing and home dental care
✔ Following your veterinarian’s dental advice
Good pet dental care reduces the risk of periodontal disease, gingivitis, gum infections, digestive issues, and chronic pain. Undiagnosed dental disease can lead to serious complications and, in severe cases, can be life-threatening.
Dental care for pets reduces the risk of diseases such as; periodontal disease, gingivitis, gum problems and even digestion problems. Dental problems that are undiagnosed can lead to pain, and more complications that can lead to being fatal. Generally speaking, pain, discomfort and bad breath are almost certainly your common symptoms to look for.
A Real Example: Poppy’s Story
Poppy, our veteran staff pet, is a 13-year-old Border Terrier and a perfect example of why pet dental health matters. Her owner, Graham, has been part of our Orchard family for over 10 years. Poppy recently came in for a dental procedure, highlighting just how important proactive dental care is — especially as pets get older.
Find out more about Poppy’s story here.
T&C’s for pet dental month
Valid on bookings made by 28th February with a procedure date before 30th April 2026. The procedure of ‘Scale & Polish’ is a set fee, however if a veterinary surgeon discovers any issues that requires further veterinary treatment you may be contacted to advise this and be asked if you would like further treatment. Any additional treatment is extra and is payable and our team will provide you with an estimate for this extra cost before proceeding.
This offer is limited to just 25 clients, so we reserve the right to end this offer at any time. This offer is non-transferrable and cannot be used toward any other treatments, products or services. The estimated savings is ‘up to’ as savings do depend on factors such as breed, size and sometimes materials used. We have estimated what we consider as more than half the minimum saving and less than double the maximum saving. You will save at least £100,.
This promotion includes a health check dated 6 months after the procedure. You do not have to use this appointment, be we strongly encourage you to. Our team will contact you when your appointment is coming up due.