Dentistry

February is Veterinary Dental Health Month!!!

Your pet's dental health is one of the most important aspects of their overall well-being.  By the time your pet is 3 years of age 70-80% of them will have oral disease.  You may recognize this as bad breath, brown or green buildup on their teeth and red or bleeding gums.  At the veterinary hospital you may hear us use the words gingivitis, tartar and plaque.  The most important thing to remember about dental disease is that it can be very painful (to the point where your pet may not want to eat). 

A dental cleaning for your pet will involve all of the anesthetic and monitoring care that our other surgeries receive.  Your pet's teeth are ultrasonically scaled and polished by a trained veterinary technician.  The doctor examines the whole mouth (it's a whole lot easier when your pet is sleeping) to determine if any teeth are compromised and need to be surgically extracted (pulled).  When you come to pick up your pet that afternoon the veterinary technician who performed the cleaning will discuss your pet's dental care with you. 

The key to maintaining your pet's dental health is at-home dental care.  Our technicians are passionate about dental health and would love to help you find the best solution.  We carry a variety of toothbrushes, toothpaste, drinking water additives and dental chews for dogs and cats.