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FAQ
When periodontal disease is detected early, its progress can be slowed by professional dental cleanings under anesthesia, along with consistent home care. If the disease progresses, more advanced treatments such as gum surgery and tooth extraction will be needed. Please consult your veterinarian.
Detecting periodontal disease in the early stage is difficult because the disease begins in the hidden space between the gum and the tooth. Pet owners are not able to see early disease, and without the right tool, veterinary teams are not able to detect it in the awake animal, either. In the past, periodontal disease has typically been found only after the disease has progressed, when the dog or cat is placed under general anesthesia and an oral examination is performed and x-rays are taken.
OraPet detects thiols, which are produced by bacteria during periodontal infection. When administered to the awake dog or cat during a routine examination, the test detects active periodontal disease—even early in the progression of disease, when the infection is invisible beneath the gums. OraPet is easy to use, giving results in 10 seconds. The pad on the test strip is swiped along the gums. When thiols are present, the pad changes color from white to shades of yellow: more yellow color means more thiols are present. Any positive test result is significant, and higher levels of thiols generally reflect more severe periodontal disease. Please consult your veterinarian.