Dental Care

Dental Care

Healthy teeth, happy pets!

Preventative Dental Care

Starting preventative dental care early is essential to maintaining your pet’s oral health. Your veterinarian may recommend:

• Using a finger brush with flavored toothpaste daily
• Applying an oral rinse with Chlorhexidine along the gumline
• Feeding dry food exclusively
• Providing safe chew toys like Kong products

Dental care plans are tailored based on veterinary recommendations, your pet’s willingness, and your schedule. While daily brushing might seem daunting, it’s important for your pet’s health to maintain clean, white teeth—just like ours!

Signs of a Healthy Mouth

During a quick at-home check, gently lift your pet’s lips to inspect their teeth and gums. Look for:

• Clean teeth without tartar buildup
• No missing or broken teeth
• Pink, firm gum tissue

Common Signs of Dental Problems

• Bad breath
• Drooling
• Teeth chattering
• Bleeding gums
• Hesitation to eat or chew
• Failure to groom (especially in cats)
• Loose, broken, or eroded teeth

If you notice any of these signs, schedule an appointment with us to assess your pet’s dental health.

Dental Disease: A Serious Concern

Left untreated, dental disease can cause pain, tooth loss, and lead to serious systemic health issues, including heart, kidney, intestinal, and joint problems. Bacteria from tartar and inflamed gums can enter the bloodstream, affecting vital organs. Early detection and treatment are crucial to prevent irreversible damage.

Professional Dental Cleaning

When professional cleaning is recommended, we begin with a physical exam and may require blood work. Pre-anesthetic blood tests provide a detailed understanding of your pet’s organ function and overall health, ensuring safety during the procedure. For more comprehensive results, we recommend sending blood work to an external lab before the procedure day.

Procedure Overview

On the morning of the procedure, please follow these guidelines for your pet’s safety:

• No food after 8:00 PM the night before (water is allowed).
• Arrive between 7:30 AM and 8:30 AM for check-in.
• Provide a contact number and confirm any specific requests with the receptionist.

Your pet’s health history and blood work will be reviewed before administering anesthesia. Vital signs, including temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate, are closely monitored during the procedure. For added safety, critical patients receive advanced monitoring, including blood pressure and EKG.

During the cleaning, our team:

• Ultrasonically scales and polishes teeth
• Examines the mouth for problem areas
• Performs extractions if necessary, based on criteria such as root exposure, cavities, or pain

After the procedure, a technician will monitor your pet during recovery and provide you with updates.

Post-Procedure Care

When you pick up your pet, they may be prescribed antibiotics and, if extractions were performed, pain medication. You will receive detailed written instructions for at-home care. Be sure to complete all prescribed medications and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Schedule Your Pet’s Dental Cleaning Today!

Take the first step in ensuring a healthy smile for your pet.