Dog and Cat Dental Care

Regular professional cleaning is important to maintaining your pet’s teeth and therefore your pet’s overall health. Unfortunately, by the age of three, 85% of pets show signs of periodontal disease. This is a painful condition, and can actually shorten their lifespan.

Without a proper dental plan, minor oral issues can progress into advanced and hard-to-treat illnesses as bacteria and infection on the teeth can enter the bloodstream and damage your pet's kidneys and heart valves.

Schedule an dental exam for your pet so that we can see if there are any potential issues and come up with a treatment plan.

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Why Your Pet Needs a Dental Exam

Not sure you can remember your pet’s last cleaning? Typically, you should bring your dog or cat in for a dental exam and cleaning every year. Look for these signs, which indicate not only poor oral hygiene, but also poor health:

  • Bad breath
  • Red and swollen gums
  • Excessive drooling
  • Dropping food while eating (could indicate oral pain)
  • Yellow/brown buildup on the teeth
  • Pawing at mouth
  • Change in behavior
  • Sleeping more often or reluctant to play with chew toys
  • Decreased in appetite or unexpected weight loss

Scheduling a Teeth Cleaning

We want your pet to live a long, healthy life, and want to help you understand that maintaining a healthy mouth for your pet is a major part of that. If your pet’s dental cleaning schedule has fallen by the wayside, you can get get back on track by scheduling an appointment now.

BENEFITS OF A DENTAL CLEANING FOR YOUR DOG OR CAT

During a dental exam, our staff takes a thorough approach to diagnose and treat dental disease and work with you for an effective treatment plan. Our complete dental care includes:

  • Dental radiographs - X-rays allow us a deep, accurate look at your pet’s teeth and supporting structures which we can't see from an exam alone. This is how we see any disease beneath the surface of the gums.
  • Anesthesia - For your pet’s comfort, our dental services are performed under anesthesia. This allows us to examine your pet’s mouth for abnormalities while keeping them safe.
  • Monitoring - Our monitors are used to check your pet’s vital signs safely with under anesthesia.
  • Cleaning and extractions - We remove tartar and plaque and then polish the surface of the tooth so buildup is less.
  • Extractions - If needed, your pet's loose, decayed, or broken teeth will be removed to improve their health and comfort.
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About Vernon Woods Animal Hospital...