Pets can be surprisingly good at hiding dental pain. This sponsored post reveals the signs that could mean something isn’t right.

Bad breath might seem like a relatively harmless part of owning a pet, but it can sometimes be the first indication that something more serious is happening inside their mouth.

At Weston Woden Animal Hospital, Dr Saraih Werry says dental health is an important part of a pet’s overall wellbeing, particularly because animals can be remarkably good at hiding discomfort.

“Pets can’t tell us when they have a sore tooth, and many will continue eating even when they have significant dental disease,” says Dr Werry.

“That’s why regular dental checks are so important. They give us the opportunity to identify problems earlier, before they potentially become more painful or complicated.”

Just like people, pets can develop plaque and tartar, inflammation of the gums and periodontal disease. Over time, untreated dental problems can cause considerable discomfort and may ultimately result in damaged teeth requiring treatment or extraction.

While bad breath can be one warning sign, owners should also look for changes such as difficulty chewing, dropping food, excessive drooling, pawing at the mouth or face, eating differently or becoming reluctant to tackle harder foods.

However, Dr Werry says owners shouldn’t wait for an obvious symptom before thinking about their pet’s teeth.

“One of the misconceptions is that if a pet is still eating, their teeth must be fine,” she says.

“Animals are very resilient, so by the time an owner notices something is wrong, a dental problem may have been developing for quite some time.”

Dental Awareness Month is also providing an extra reason for local pet owners to think about their pet’s teeth and gums. To mark the month, Weston Woden Animal Hospital is holding a raffle to raise money for the ACT Pet Crisis Fund. The winner will receive bags of pet food from Hill’s, along with $100 worth of KONG toys of their choosing.

Dental care is part of the broader preventative approach at Weston Woden Animal Hospital, where the veterinary team cares for dogs and cats as well as rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, reptiles and other exotic pets.

And there is an exciting new chapter ahead for the established local practice.

A brand-new, purpose-built Weston Woden Animal Hospital is set to open in early 2027, providing a modern veterinary environment designed specifically around the needs of animals, their owners and the veterinary professionals caring for them.

The new hospital will enhance the team-based, collaborative approach the clinic takes to preventative, geriatric and palliative care. It will be fully equipped for dentistry, surgery, diagnostic testing, digital radiography, ultrasound and exotic and unusual pets.

Importantly, the new facility is also being developed with patient comfort in mind, supporting the hospital’s focus on making veterinary visits as calm and stress-free as possible.

“We know a visit to the vet can be stressful for some animals, so creating an environment that considers their comfort is incredibly important,” says Dr Werry.

“The new hospital is an opportunity for us to create a facility that reflects how we want to practise veterinary medicine and care for our patients for many years to come. We’re very excited about what it will mean for our clients and their pets.”

While the new hospital represents an exciting future for Weston Woden Animal Hospital, Dr Werry says good preventative care starts with the simple things owners can do today.

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