Your pet’s world revolves around its mouth.
Regular dental care is essential for keeping your pet healthy and happy. Without proper dental hygiene routines, pets develop periodontal disease, which is the most common disorder affecting our pets nationwide. By age three, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some evidence of periodontal disease.
At advanced stages, dental disease can significantly impact a pet’s quality of life. It can cause mouth pain, which makes eating difficult. Plus, bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause heart, liver and kidney complications. Pets are good at hiding pain, so it’s important for pet owners to take steps to prevent periodontal disease from striking in the first place.
Periodic dental exams help maintain proper oral hygiene and prevent future complications and at Meadow Wood Animal Hospital, we offer complete pet oral health services, including:
- Full-Mouth Radiographs
- Ultrasonic Cleaning
- Subgingival Scaling
- Polishing
- Extractions (if needed)
- Comprehensive Oral Exams and Assessments
- Emergency Oral Services
Before Dental Cleaning
After Dental Cleaning
Don’t wait to take care of your pet’s teeth! If you have questions regarding your pet’s dental health or to schedule a dental cleaning, please contact us today.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Why does my pet need a dental cleaning and how often should this be done?
Many of the pets that visit us on a regular basis need professional teeth cleaning. When bacteria irritate the gum line, the gums become inflamed in the early stages of dental disease-causing gingivitis. 80% of dogs and 70% of cats need a dental cleaning by the time they are 3-5 years of age. Most animals should have a dental prophylaxis yearly. Left untreated, this leads to periodontal disease which causes the loss of the bone and gingival support structure of the tooth and subsequent tooth loss. In addition, the bacteria are consistently released into the bloodstream allowing for systemic infections, which can cause damage to internal organs, such as the kidneys, liver, and heart. A dental exam is a part of any physical exam we offer.
Do I need to brush my pet’s teeth at home?
Yes. Proper dental care at home is highly recommended to help maintain the oral health of your dog and cat. Home dental care for companion animals should start early, even before the adult teeth erupt. It is best if owners brush their dogs and cats teeth frequently. Although tooth brushing is the best method of preventing plaque, calculus, and bacterial build-up, there are many options for dental home care. Other oral home care options such as dental formulated foods, water additives, and dental treats can be considered and discussed with one of our veterinarians.