02 Sep Dental Health for Senior Pets: Special Considerations as They Age
As a board-certified veterinary dentist in Colorado Springs, I’ve seen firsthand how a pet’s oral health impacts their overall well-being—especially as they get older. Senior pets have unique dental needs that require thoughtful care and attention. Focusing on senior pet dental health not only prevents disease but also ensures your beloved companion remains comfortable and able to enjoy their golden years.
Why Dental Care Matters More for Senior Pets
By the time pets reach their senior years, many have already experienced years of tartar buildup, gingivitis, or even untreated dental problems. Left unaddressed, these issues can develop into painful infections or tooth loss. What many pet parents don’t realize is that oral disease also affects the rest of the body.
Chronic dental disease in senior pets has been linked to negative changes in the:
- Heart
- Kidney
- Liver
Addressing senior pet dental health is therefore about much more than clean teeth—it’s about safeguarding long-term health.
Common Dental Concerns in Aging Pets
As pets age, I frequently see conditions such as:
- Advanced periodontal disease that manifests as breakdown of gums and bone surrounding teeth.
- Loose, fractured, or resorptive lesion teeth that cause ongoing pain.
- Oral masses or tumors, which occur more commonly in older animals.
- Tooth root abscesses, often hidden below the gumline but visible on dental radiographs.
- Untreated oral pain. We must remind ourselves that pets most often do not show outward signs of pain, especially in the mouth. Their survival instincts are so strong that they simply don’t stop eating even with advanced periodontal disease.
Routine professional dental exams under anesthesia combined with full-mouth radiographs or cone beam CT scans are the only way to identify these problems early and treat them effectively.
Special Considerations for Senior Pet Dental Care
- More Frequent Exams
While younger pets may do well with annual checkups, I recommend that senior pets have dental evaluations every six months. Their needs change quickly, and regular monitoring allows us to intervene before problems become severe. It has now become the standard of care in human dentistry to have our teeth evaluated and treated every 6 months.
Why are dogs and cats any different? In fact, when pets who have already experienced dental disease only have annual dental cleanings, often without daily homecare, they will be more likely to require additional periodontal surgeries and even tooth extractions.
- Safe and Tailored Anesthesia
Many owners worry about anesthesia in older pets. The reality is that modern anesthetic protocols are very safe, even for seniors, when proper precautions are taken. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork, advanced monitoring, and individualized anesthetic plans help reduce risks and keep your pet safe during dental procedures.
Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery in Colorado Springs utilizes a board-certified veterinary anesthesiologist on the majority of our cases. Our anesthesiologist reviews our records and pre-op screening, formulates a specific anesthetic plan for the patient, reviews the plan with one of our board-certified veterinary dentists and signs on via livestream to our advanced anesthetic monitors.
Throughout the procedure the anesthesiologist has an open phone connection with our anesthesia technician and guides all involved through the procedure. No anesthetic procedure is free of risk, but our protocols greatly mitigate the involved risk with a senior patient.
- Pain Prevention and Management
Senior pets are not free of peri-operative pain. I prioritize effective pain control, using local nerve blocks, anti-inflammatory medications, and other strategies to ensure your pet remains comfortable before, during, and after treatment.
- Modified Home Dental Care
Brushing may become more difficult as pets age, especially if they resist handling. In these cases, alternatives such as dental wipes, prescription dental diets, or water additives can provide support. I also recommend avoiding very hard chew toys, which can fracture already fragile teeth. There is always something we can do to decrease plaque buildup. While these other options are not as effective as tooth brushing, many will still have a positive impact on reducing the amount of dental plaque in our pet’s mouth.
Supporting Senior Pet Dental Health at Home
Owners play an essential role in maintaining their pet’s oral health between professional visits. Pay close attention to changes like:
- Reluctance to eat hard food
- Dropping food or chewing on one side of the mouth
- Excessive drooling
- Swelling around the face
- Persistent bad breath
These are often early signs of dental pain and infection, and the sooner they’re addressed, the more comfortable your pet will be.
The Bottom Line
As pets age, their dental needs evolve. Focusing on senior pet dental health ensures not only healthier teeth and gums but also greater comfort, better nutrition, and an overall higher quality of life. With regular veterinary checkups, safe anesthetic procedures, and thoughtful at-home care, you can give your senior pet the gift of a pain-free and healthy mouth in their golden years.
If your dog or cat is entering their senior years, now is the perfect time to schedule a professional dental exam. At Animal Dental Care and Oral Surgery in Colorado Springs, our board-certified veterinary dentists specialize in senior pet dental care. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and give your pet the comfort they deserve.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (09/02/2025) Photo by Linoleum Creative Collective on Unsplash