Inglis Veterinary Hospital

It’s important for our pets to receive dental care. Keeping on top of their dental needs and maintaining good oral hygiene should be as much a part of your pet’s life as it is yours.

We carry out dentistry on dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs. We have a dedicated dental suite with a dental table and workstation with all modern veterinary dental equipment. We also have a new dental x-ray machine and processor.

How do I know if my pet needs a dental?

Your pet will receive a dental check-up at their yearly booster, or you can ask for an appointment if you are concerned about your pet's ability to eat, the smelliness of their breath, or any damage you may have noticed to their teeth. It is usually possible to get a rough idea of the health of your pet's teeth during a consultation.
 
For a more detailed examination, a full general anaesthetic is necessary for any treatment, such as a scale and polish or an extraction. This will allow the vet to examine the entire mouth, the tongue, gums and palate in a safe and thorough fashion. It may not be possible to determine the number of extractions necessary until this examination takes place and in many cases, not until the tartar has been removed.

Dental x-rays can reveal damage inside a tooth and below the gums in your pet. This will allow the Vet to decide the best advice to recommend for the individual tooth.

As they are herbivores, the teeth of rabbits and guinea pigs continue growing throughout their life. This can lead to problems if they do not wear them down evenly by eating a balanced diet of hay and vegetables.

If your rabbit or guinea pig is having problems eating, they may need to have their teeth burred or rasped down under anaesthetic to prevent ulcers developing on the tongue. 

Dental x-rays are recommended to help give best advice for recurring dental problems in our small mammals.

At Inglis Vets we offer a wide range of diagnostic facilities. These facilities allow us to use the most appropriate combination of techniques to help us reach a diagnosis for your pet.

Laboratory:

Laboratory testing plays an integral role in the early detection of changes in your pet's health. Diagnostic tests provide essential information by which our veterinarians can identify blood disorders, kidney and liver disease, diabetes, infection, cancer, thyroid disease, and other hormonal problems. Our extensive laboratory provides fast and accurate information that is necessary for the well-being of your pet. Due to our modern in-house diagnostic equipment, animals can receive appropriate treatment immediately after arriving at the hospital.

Ultrasound:

Ultrasound is a non-invasive modern technique that produces a visual image of the interior of the body. It is completely free from side effects. In addition, ultrasound allows the vet to achieve a depth of detail that is not possible with x-rays. Ultrasound is particularly useful in diagnosing abdominal diseases as well as diseases of the heart. Our ultrasound machine enables us to see the organs inside your pet whilst conscious (e.g. for pregnancy diagnosis or in very sick animals unsuitable for anaesthesia), or combined with x-ray to give a faster and more accurate diagnosis.

Endoscopy:

We have an endoscope in the Hospital. Endoscopy uses a specialised video camera to visualise areas within the airways, oesophagus, and stomach, all in a minimally invasive manner. It can aid with diagnosis alongside other imaging techniques and can also be used to remove some foreign bodies.

Radiography:

We have a high-quality x-ray machine with automatic processing that produces excellent quality radiographs. Radiographs are essential for diagnosing certain medical and surgical problems, and are performed routinely, with pets either awake or anaesthetised. We also are able to perform various types of contrast studies as well as x-rays for the diagnosis of hip dysplasia.

Blood pressure monitoring:

High blood pressure or systemic hypertension is an important disease to watch out for in older animals, especially cats. It is important to have regular monitoring of a blood pressure problem. We also offer blood pressure measurement at our Veterinary Nurse consultations.

ECG:

Electrocardiography, or ECG, allows us to assess the electrical activity of the heart enabling us to rapidly diagnose cardiac cases or as a monitoring device during anaesthesia.