Veterinary Dentistry in Dartmouth: Feline and Canine Dental
Cats don’t care if they have crooked teeth and dogs could really care less about their reputation for having bad breath. However, when it comes to dental care for pets, it’s more than just aesthetics and hygiene – it could be a case of life versus death. Veterinary dentistry in Dartmouth is essential for the health and well-being of your pet. Studies show that dental or periodontal disease is one of the most common conditions affecting pets in the United States today. Approximately 70-80 percent of cats and dogs will have some degree of dental disease by the time they are just three years of age. Canine dental care and feline dental care are necessary to prevent a painful mouth, difficulty eating, and reduce dangers that can impact kidney and heart disease.
Brushing at Home – and Beyond!
One of the best ways to combat dental issues in cats and dogs is to start brushing their teeth at home. While some animals are resistant and can even become highly stressed when you attempt to brush their teeth, the sooner you start trying to do it, the better. Just a 30-second brushing can turn into a minute, five minutes, and more as your pet becomes more comfortable with the process. If you aren’t sure what to do, bring your brushing tools to Anchor Animal Hospital to discuss your pet’s needs for veterinary dentistry in Dartmouth. Our team can show you the best way to brush your pet’s teeth and offer tips and solutions that will make it a pleasant experience for you both.
Routine dental cleanings and check-ups can help to improve your pet’s health even further. Canine dental care and feline dental care are offered at our clinic but must be provided under anesthesia. This helps our team to properly evaluate, x-ray or scan, clean, polish, and provide fluoride treatments to your pet’s teeth for comprehensive dental care for pets. We use a cutting edge multi-parameter machine to continuously monitor your pet while under anesthesia, tracking things like heart and respiratory rates, end-tidal CO2, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, and temperature. Our team includes a veterinary doctor and highly-trained veterinary staff member, who also monitor your pet throughout the procedure and after, as your pet comes out of the anesthesia.
Senior Pet Care
Dental care for pets is even more important than for younger animals. Our veterinary dentistry in Dartmouth requires pets that are seven years of age or older to undergo a per-anesthetic blood screening. This helps us to be aware of any potential problems that could happen while your pet receives canine dental care or feline dental care under anesthesia. We will create a custom protocol that is tailored specifically for your pet’s needs to ensure that adequate pain relief is provided so your pet can experience the smoothest recovery possible. Pets that have other health conditions and diseases may require specialized care. At Anchor Animal Hospital, we are very careful to make sure that every need, requirement, and health concern is addressed.
Even if your pet’s teeth appear to be clean and free of disease, a professional scan is required. We strongly recommend a full-mouth digital radiograph to determine the sub-gingival health of your pet’s teeth. Approximately 70 percent of the tooth exists below the gum line, which means that a visual check-up is not enough. Problems within the roots can be hidden by the gums that should be addressed as soon as possible to prevent infection and other disease-related issues from expanding. In other cases, a tooth that looks bad on top might be completely healthy under the gumline, allowing the veterinary dentistry in Dartmouth to save the tooth from extraction.
Quality Services and Top Technology
If you are interested in learning more about dental care for pets, be sure to speak with one of our technicians about your concerns. Our doctors have many years of experience working with canine dental care and feline dental care, have received advanced dental training at the Animal Dental Training Center, and rely on state-of-the-art equipment to get the job done right. We use a surgical approach to remove any broken, infected, or otherwise “bad” teeth to decrease post-operative pain and improve healing time. In some cases, additional home care may be required, including dental cleanings, daily brushing, dental rinses, dental chews, and even a tartar control diet, such as Hill’s T/D Prescription Diet or Healthy Advantage.
Our mission is to provide each pet we see with high-quality veterinary medicine, surgery, and preventive veterinary care, as needed. We proudly serve patients and pet owners in the Southcoast Massachusetts and Rhode Island area with the latest technology and techniques in our friendly and personal atmosphere. If you would like to schedule an appointment or speak with one of our team members about veterinary dentistry in Dartmouth and the surrounding area, give us a call at 508-996-3731. We can answer any questions you might have about dental care for pets and provide the very best veterinary services for your pet.