Routine dental care is a necessity for the health of our pets. Just like humans, poor oral hygiene can affect the overall health of our pets, too. Dental disease is a common problem our pets face. The most common problem is plaque or dental tartar. Dental calculus (tartar) is composed of various mineral salts, organic material and food particles. In the early stages of accumulation, the material is soft (plaque), but it later hardens and adheres to the teeth. Continual accumulation causes inflammation of the gums and eventual recession of the gums and loose teeth. The breath becomes very odorous and the mouth becomes a dangerous source of infection.
Untreated tooth and gum disease may allow bacteria to enter the bloodstream and cause damage to vital organs in their body.
Do any of these sound familiar?
- You routinely examine your pet’s mouth and have noticed that the teeth are discolored.
- Your pet’s mouth is sensitive and he/she will not allow you to look at the teeth.
- Are they experiencing difficulty eating?
- Bad breath is a noticeable problem.
- Blood or infection has been seen coming from the mouth (or on the bedding).
- Cracked or chipped teeth have been found in their mouth
At your pets yearly wellness exam we will assess their teeth. Whether they need at home maintenance or are in need of a cleaning, we will make a plan on how to achieve and maintain good oral health for your pet. Dental cleanings are very common outpatient procedures, here’s a little more on what we do. All patients undergoing a dental cleaning will be placed under general anesthetic to ensure we are able to provide the best possible cleaning and care to their teeth. Our animal hospital is equipped with oral radiography which provides our doctors the tools required for a complete dental procedure should an oral extraction be necessary. Our trained staff is able to scale, polish, and perform oral surgery. The scaling will remove calculus at and below the gum line, while polishing will smooth the tooth surface to reduce plaque and tartar buildup.
Proper dental care is the best way to help keep our pets feeling their best.