Pet Dental Services

Dental care may not be the first thing we think about when it comes to our pet's health, but cats and dogs can benefit from regular teeth cleanings as much as we can. Just like us, our pets need to practice proper dental hygiene—otherwise, they can suffer from plaque and tartar buildup, as well as more serious oral health issues like gingivitis, stomatitis, and tooth resorption. Periodontal diseases can be extremely painful and even life-threatening if left untreated. Sadly, due to a lack of awareness about the importance of cat and dog dental care, periodontal disease affects 70% of cats and almost 90% of dogs aged three or older in the US. Much of this could be prevented by a simple regular pet dental checkups. When managing your pet's overall health, dental care is a crucial part of any comprehensive veterinary services plan.

For a cat or dog, pet dental cleaning usually involves an examination by the veterinarian technician, who will identify any periodontal health issues that need to be addressed. Prior to cleaning the teeth, the team will take full mouth x-rays to look for any issues happening below the gum line.  Think of an iceberg where we only have a partial view of the entire tooth with the naked eye.

The registered veterinary technician will then carefully clean your pet's teeth, removing tartar and other debris that could lead to oral health problems down the line. If your vet identifies more serious issues that must be addressed, they'll discuss treatment options with you. This is usually the extent of a standard dog or cat teeth cleaning.

What are the long-term effects of poor oral pet health?

Without treatment from a trained technician at a professional veterinary dental clinic, your pets may experience tooth, gum, and mouth issues that can leave them with chronic, and potentially severe, pain. Because oral health problems are not as obvious as other bodily injuries, they can go unnoticed and untreated. As these problems worsen over time, pets can develop tumors and cysts. Periodontal diseases and other oral health conditions can even threaten the health of your dog or cat's kidneys, liver, heart, and other internal organs. In the long run, dental health problems can limit your pet's quality of life and shorten their lifespan.

How do I keep my pet's teeth clean at home?

The dos and don'ts of dog and cat dental cleaning at home can be surprisingly simple. Do: brush their teeth regularly and give them dental chew toys designed to help eliminate plaque. Don't: let them chew on things that can damage their teeth, such as hard objects regularly. Keep an eye out for changes in eating habits or other unusual behaviors that may indicate a problem is developing. Follow these basic rules and your pet should receive a gold star come check-up time.

What are common pet dental problems?

Plaque and tartar buildup, which can lead to periodontitis and gingivitis, are major dental issues that afflict cats and dogs when unchecked. Tooth resorption, a process by which the tooth decays from the inside, and which particularly afflicts cats, can lead to the loss of teeth. Ultimately, pet dental issues are as serious as any other health problem that affects your pet's well-being and should be treated with the same level of attention with professional teeth cleaning and a routine dental exam.