Dental

Dental hygiene is an important part of your pet's health, because dental disease can be associated with other serious health problems such as heart disease and kidney disease. But how do you know if your pet has a healthy mouth? Let us examine your pet's teeth and gums to help determine if there are any dental issues you should know about. After a brief visual examination, we may recommend a more detailed examination (which requires sedation), a dental cleaning, and xrays of your pet's teeth.

We want your pet to live a long, healthy life, and we understand that maintaining a healthy mouth is part of that. Your pet's health is important to us, so let us help you with this commitment. Call today to discuss your pet's dental care needs and how we can help!

Common signs of oral disease include:

  • Tartar buildup
  • Red and swollen gums
  • Bad breath
  • Changes in eating or chewing habits
  • Pawing at the face, drooling
  • Generalized depression, weight loss.

Dental disease causes pain and can affect other organs in the body: bacteria in the mouth can get into the blood stream and may cause serious kidney infections or heart disease. Oral disease can also indicate that another disease process is occurring elsewhere in a pet's body. A thorough physical exam combined with appropriate laboratory work can determine if this is the case.

The American Animal Hospital Association recommends regular oral examinations and dental cleanings, under general anesthesia, for all adult dogs and cats. A veterinarian should evaluate your pet's dental health at least once a year. This is recommended because bacteria and food debris accumulates around a pet's teeth and, if left unchecked, will lead to deterioration of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This decay results in irreversible periodontal disease and even tooth loss. We can recommend and demonstrate preventative measures you can begin at home.

Advanced Services - Periodontal