PET DENTAL CARE

Proper care of the teeth is one of the most important and often ignored preventive health measures for your pet. ==> In many cases it will add years to your pets life !!!

Even people who "brush after every meal" occasionally need their own teeth cleaned professionally. Your pet certainly does not brush. Therefore, he or she will need periodic help from us. Most pets need their teeth cleaned yearly, but some may require it more (or less) often.

• Your doctor has suggested it after a physical examination.
• You routinely examine your pet's mouth and have noticed that the teeth are discolored.
• Your pet's mouth is sensitive and he/she will not allow you to look at the teeth. Dental pain may also be evidenced by difficulty eating.
• Bad breath is a noticeable problem.
• Blood or infection has been seen coming from the mouth (or on the bedding).

1. You can brush your pet's teeth weekly with a soft toothbrush. Hold the mouth shut and brush only the outside of the teeth. Special dog/cat toothpaste not only tastes better to the pet but it is safe when swallowed. The newer products also contain tartar control agents that will make professional cleaning needed less often.
2. If the use of a brush isn't right for you then dental gauze sponges are also available that are pre-soaked in the toothpaste. Wrap one around your finger and rub the outside of the teeth as though you were using a brush.
3. A tartar control dental spray is also available for cats and dogs. It is to be sprayed on the outside of the teeth at lease once weekly. It also helps with the pet's breath.
4. Feeding dry food does not prevent tartar build-up completely but it does slow down the rate of accumulations on the teeth. Hill's prescription diet  t/d is an excellent diet that that dramatically reduces plaque and tartar build up on your pet's teeth.
5. Finally, providing hard chew toys, biscuits, and rawhide bones will also help.

A:  Tartar is the accumulation of bacteria and food debris on your pet's teeth.  It can progress to a hard "stone-like" formation on the surface of the tooth called calculus.  Gingivitis is inflammation of the gum caused by bacteria around the tooth. 

A:  Dirty teeth not only offer a source of infection for your pet they will cause bad breath, eventual tooth loss: and may even lead to generalized infection in your pet due to bacteria entering the blood stream.

Heart disease (murmurs) and Kidney disease are a very common result of "dirty teeth". 

A:  You pet is given a complete physical exam and any need laboratory work to ensure your pet's well-being prior to the procedure.  Your pet is then sedated with the same medications utilized in human medicine.  The teeth are then hand-scaled, cleaned with an ultrasound equipment and polished.  This procedure is very similar to the one followed by a human dentist.  Occasionally, tooth extractions are necessary when the tooth root is destroyed by infection. 

Q: Is anesthesia really necessary?

A: YES...pets are essentially uncooperative patients by nature. A thorough teeth cleaning of all sides of the teeth requires the use of special instruments that are placed into the mouth. This ultrasonic scaler sprays water, vibrates and makes a slight buzzing noise. Movements by the pet could cause injury.

A: The risk is absolutely minimal. With the advent of state-of-the-art anesthetic agents and monitoring equipment, the dental disease is a greater risk to your pet than the anesthesia. 

A: If you have special concerns, your pet has medical problems, or is over the age of 8 a simple blood test will help the doctor assure the highest level of safety possible. 

A: As with people, most of the tooth is below the gum line and only visible with the help of an x-ray. Hidden disease may be causing your pet pain. X-rays also help us to reduce the number of extractions by revealing the status of the tooth root. With a healthy root many teeth can be saved. 

A: Dogs and cats do not really chew as we do, however, if there are only a few teeth left, soft (canned) foods may be easier for the pet to eat. We make every attempt to save a tooth before the decision is made to remove it. A loose, diseased tooth is of no value to the pet and can cause pain and be a source of infection. 

A:  Your pet will be given an antibiotic injection at the time of the dental procedure.  If your pet has advanced dental disease antibiotics may be given at home several days before and after the cleaning.

A: Usually yes...however, late admissions (after noon), needed blood tests, or slow wake-up from the anesthetic may make an overnight stay best for the pet. 

A:  Your pet should have no food after 10:00 p.m. the night prior to your scheduled appointment.  We request that you bring your pet to the hospital between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.  This allows us to perform any necessary tests and start the procedure early in the morning so your pet may go home in the afternoon. 

A:  Gums and teeth may be a little sensitive for 3-4 days after the cleaning. You should  feed your pet about 1/2 of its usual meal the night of the cleaning.  Pet's that normally get dry food may be more comfortable if their food is moistened for a day or so.