Most people visit their dentist every year for a cleaning and 'check-up.' But did you know that dental disease affects approximately 85% of cats and dogs over 1 year of age? Just like with humans, your pet's dental health can affect their overall health - from infection to possible heart or kidney disease!
During your pet's vaccine appointment or health exam, the veterinarian will have a look at his or her teeth and recommend a course of action for maintenance, diet, and/or treatment. We have handouts to assist you with starting to brush your pet's teeth and on the various dental diets available.
If necessary, the veterinarian may recommend a full dentistry with possible tooth extractions. This could be due to excess tartar or a broken tooth. We will provide a detailed estimate for any recommended procedure. As pets often do not want to sit back and say "Ahhh," dental cleaning is done under general anesthetic. Your pet will have pre-anesthetic blood work and intravenous fluids in order to minimize any potential risk or complications associated with general anesthetic. One of our Registered AHTs will thoroughly examine your pet's mouth and clean his or her teeth, just like a Dental Hygienist would clean yours. This includes scaling (removing plaque and tartar), polishing, and an antibacterial rinse (if necessary). The veterinarian will oversee this and extract any teeth that can't be saved. Depending on the condition of your pet's teeth, the doctor may prescribe antibiotics or an anti-inflammatory pain medication.
If you have any questions about your pet's dental health, please give us a call to book an appointment or consultation!