Kisses without cooties are possible. Dog breath can be eliminated.
Dental care is available in many forms. The best is daily brushing with a brush and a paste that is specifically for cats & dogs.
"My pet refuses to let me brush":We have alternative options available. C.E.T chews and a product for their daily water that will overcome the most reluctant pets.
If you start good dental care and brushing habits with your pet when they are young, you will train them into good dental patients. If no dental care is given, your pet has a 75% risk of needing a surgical dental cleaning by the time they are 3 years old.
When the time arrives for a thorough dental procedure, all care will be taken as for any other surgery performed at Parker Road Animal Hospital.
This is definitely the place for owner participation and early intervention to avoid body-wide infection and/or disease because of bad teeth.
Subgingival Teeth Cleanings (surgical dental) are an anesthetic procedure and can be scheduled Monday through Friday.
All teeth cleanings occur while the pet is under anesthesia for the safety of the pet and the veterinarian.
The pet is put under general anesthesia and the veterinarian will complete ultrasonic scaling to remove any plaque, polish each tooth, and do a fluoride treatment. Your pet will receive antibiotics to prevent infection from any bacteria that may be released during the cleaning. Your pet will also receive pain medication for the first few days following the teeth cleaning as it does cause discomfort for the pet.
Daily brushing of your pets’ teeth will minimize plaque build-up and the user of an anti-septic oral rinse will help protect against bacterial growth in their mouth. Specially formulated chew treats and food will also help to keep the teeth healthy in between visits. Proper dental care is critical to a pet’s overall health. Bacteria from periodontal disease, if left untreated, can travel through the bloodstream and damage internal organs including the kidney, heart and liver. Keeping your pets’ teeth healthy can greatly increase their quality of life and the number of years you have to spend with your pet.
