Does your pet have bad breath?
While you shouldn’t expect your furry friend to have minty fresh breath 24/7, you probably don’t want to be on the verge of tears whenever he/she comes up to say hello!
- Dental health is an important factor in maintaining your pet’s overall health.
- Dental health issues can cause pain and additional health problems.
- Dental care goes right along with routine checkups, healthy eating, and exercise.
Dental Appointment
Cleaning, polishing and extracting. These are all the basic components of veterinary dentistry. These dental procedures are performed by our Veterinarian.
First up is an oral exam of your pet’s mouth. Initial exams are important so that your veterinarian can get a better picture of the health of your pet’s teeth and gums.
X-rays may also be used to properly assess jaw health and tooth roots below the gum line.
Dental diseases typically manifest below the gum line, where it cannot be so easily seen.
This is one of the reasons why your pets thorough dental cleaning will be done under anesthesia.
Oral Health for Your Cats and Dogs
Yearly dental exams and cleanings are recommended for your pet, but you may get your pet’s teeth checked out sooner if you notice:
- Bad breath
- Refusal to eat
- Excessive salivation
- Missing or broken teeth
- Extra teeth or baby teeth in adult pets
- Abnormal chewing or constantly dropping food from the mouth
- Pain, bleeding, or swelling in or around the mouth
Note: Take care when examining your pet’s mouth, it may be very painful for them and they may bite.
The most common dental health issue that can develop in both cats and dogs is periodontal disease. Your pet will likely show early evidence of this by age 3. It’s crucial that you be proactive in preventative measures so that conditions do not worsen for your pet as he ages. Periodontal disease can spread to affect the kidneys, liver, and heart.
What You Can Do at Home
Since frequently removing dental plaque and tartar is essential in preventing most common oral diseases, we recommend that you regularly brush your pet’s teeth in between their scheduled cleanings with us. Daily brushing is preferred but we understand that everyone has busy schedules, so brushing several times a week is also acceptable.
Generally, dogs are more agreeable than cats to having their teeth brushed, so exercise caution and patience with your kitty. Train your pets to tolerate brushing while they are young so that it doesn’t have to be a fight every time it’s time for dental care. Our experienced nurses can show you how to brush your pet’s teeth. If your pet won’t allow you to brush their teeth, you can try alternatives to brushing, such as water additives and dental treats.
We can also recommend the most effective dental products, diets, and treats appropriate for your pet to ensure optimal dental health.
