Pet Dental Care
Why Pet Dental Care is Important
At the Animal Medical Hospital, we know that dental care is an important part of your pet's health maintenance and can often be the cause of serious illness. Dental problems, left untreated, can lead to larger systemic problems in your pet due to oral bacteria entering the blood stream and causing damage to the kidneys, heart and liver.
Pets develop dental disease just as humans do. Many of these problems can be avoided by bringing your pet to your veterinarian for regular dental check-ups and teeth cleanings. Bad breath and reddened, swollen gums are the earliest and most common signs of dental problems.
Other signs of dental problems include:
- A yellow or brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line
- Indications of pain or bleeding when your pet eats or when the mouth or gums are touched
- Decreased appetite or difficulty eating
- Loose or missing teeth
What Happens During a Pet Dental Cleaning
Veterinary dentistry is quite different from the equivalent process in people. For most of us, caring for our teeth and gums has been part of our daily routine for as long as we can remember. Consequently, a person's visit to the dentist is relatively brief and does not require sedation. In contrast, veterinary dentistry is considerably more involved, time-consuming and complex. Cleaning a pet's teeth requires general anesthesia, and consequently a day of hospitalization. The skills of several people, from veterinarians to veterinary technicians and animal attendants are required for each dental procedure.
At the Animal Medical Hospital of Belair Road, your pet's dental cleaning begins with a physical examination. This examination is important for evaluating your pet's general health. After the physical exam, your pet is given an anesthetic for a safe and painless sleep during the dental cleaning.
The first part of dental cleaning for dogs and cats requires the removal of tartar. This is done with a hand scaler. Next, an ultrasonic scaler is used to clean above the gumline while a curette cleans and smoothes the teeth under the gumline in the crevice. Then your pet's teeth are polished and the gums are washed with an anti-bacterial solution to help delay tartar build-up.
Prevention: The Best Medicine
Dental care does not end with a visit to your veterinarian. You need to continue your veterinarian's good work at home. Brushing your pet's teeth is an important part of home dental care. Any member of the Animal Medical Hospital of Belair Road team can show you the proper method of brushing your pet's teeth.