Veterinary Dental Care
Did you know that dental care is as important for pets as it is for humans? Regular dog and cat teeth cleaning helps to protect your pet from oral health problems, including gum disease, tooth loss and life-threatening bacterial infections. The best approach to pet dental care combines an annual dental checkup and professional cleaning with regular at-home care including teeth brushing.
Dog & Cat Teeth Cleaning Essential for Pet Wellness
Dental care is one of the most overlooked aspects of pet care. However, your pet is more likely to experience a dental problem than any other type of health problem. Since a pet cannot brush his own teeth, it is important that you do so for him. Otherwise, food particles and bacteria will accumulate along the gum line, hardening into plaque and tartar. Once tartar forms, the only way to remove this build up is with a professional cleaning. Without a proper cleaning, tartar deposits can push away the gum line, creating pockets that are susceptible to bacterial infections.
Symptoms of an oral health problem including swollen or bleeding gums, change in appetite (eating food becomes painful), tooth loss, and foul breath. What you won’t be able to see, however, is the internal deterioration occurring along the gum line and the teeth. Tartar and bacteria can literally eat away at the teeth and the gums. If a bacterial infection forms inside the gums, this infection may enter the bloodstream and affect the internal organs, including the heart, liver and kidneys.
Following a cat or dog teeth cleaning, our veterinary care team will walk you through the steps for at-home pet teeth brushing. At-home care is the first line of defense against oral health problems. However, we also recognize that brushing a pet’s teeth is not easy, especially if your pet becomes anxious or squirms near a tooth brush.
Is your pet overdue for a dog or cat teeth cleaning? Contact our veterinarian today to schedule an appointment!