While proper dental care can sometimes add two to four years to your pet’s life, it will also help his or her health, vitality and well-being on an ongoing basis. If left untreated, however, dental disease can not only be painful and inhibit proper nutrition, it can also lead to serious systemic issues that may affect your pet’s overall health before symptoms are noticeable. Oral bacteria, for example, can enter the bloodstream and damage the kidneys, heart or liver.
Oral exams and dental cleanings are an important part of the preventative care we provide your dog or cat. Our dental cleaning includes:
- Pre-anesthetic exam and blood test to make sure your pet will be safe under anesthesia
- Intravenous catheter and fluids to facilitate recovery and protect liver & kidneys
- Pre-sedative pain medication
- Antibiotic injection to prevent infection
- Intubation and safe gas anesthetic (isoflurane)
- Warm water heating pad and digital vital sign monitoring
- Dental prophylaxis (hand and ultrasonic scaling, root planning, teeth polishing)
- Dental charting of your pet’s teeth
- Extractions, and pain medications, if needed
We also offer complimentary nail trimming in conjunction with our dental procedures, and out-patient daycare during recovery. Your pet is released to your loving care with post-dental instructions and any pertinent information.
It is important that you provide quality home dental care to your four-legged companion. That care starts with recognizing the warning signs of dental disease, which include:
- Bad breath (one of the first possible indicators)
- A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line
- Red and/or swollen gums
- Pain or bleeding when eating or when the mouth or gums are touched
- Decreased appetite or difficulty eating
- Loose or missing teeth
We encourage you to talk to any of our doctors or technicians for instructions on how to properly care for your pet’s teeth.
In addition to oral exams and cleanings, we offer a wide variety of dental services:
Oral Disease: Diagnosis and treatment of oral manifestations of systemic disease, stomatitis, autoimmune oral disease and feline resorptive lesions
Periodontics: Treatment of gingivitis and periodontal disease, gingival overgrowth and periodontal pocket surgery
Oral Surgery: Extraction of compromised teeth, tooth luxation, surgical treatment and consultation regarding oral tumors
Regular brushing is still the best way to care for your pet’s teeth. Other things you can do at home include dental rinses and gels, dental diets or dental chew toys. Ask us about any of these at-home dental products that might be helpful.