Visit Veterinary Dental Specialists: Dental Care for Pets

For most people, skipping even one day of at-home dental hygiene is cringe-worthy. No one likes having bad breath and its important to take care of your teeth. When did you last brush your pet’s teeth? Have you ever brushed their teeth or taken them to the vet for dental care? Veterinary dental care for cats and dogs is one of the most important services that modern veterinary clinics offer. Research shows that by the time most dogs and cats are three years old, up to 80% of them will have some kind of tooth or gum disease. Bad breath from tooth disease goes beyond the “dog breath” that most pet owners are familiar with. It can also make it painful to eat and leave your mouth sore. Dental disease can also cause more serious side effects, such as heart and kidney disease problems or feeling very tired all the time.

Feline and Canine Dental Care

When it comes to pet dental care, doctors and veterinary dental specialists say that brushing your pet’s teeth can help stop plaque and tooth decay from happening. On the other hand, some cats will not let this happen, which makes it hard to give them any kind of regular care at home. It is very important for your pet’s health that you take care of their teeth and gums. It is important to have a dental routine that includes brushing at home and regular cleanings at the neighborhood vet office.

Most dogs need to be put to sleep while they get their teeth cleaned. This is for their safety, the safety of the veterinary staff, and to make sure that the full range of services are given. During this type of service, the teeth are usually cleaned, polished, and given fluoride after an evaluation. A state-of-the-art multi-parameter machine is used by our staff at Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth to keep an eye on the pet while it is under anesthesia. This machine keeps track of your temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, end-tidal CO2, etc.

Dental Care for Pets

Most pet owners know that their pet is likely to get some kind of tooth or gum disease at some point in their life, but they may not fully understand the risks. Taking a quick look at a pet’s teeth isn’t enough to tell if they have cavities or other problems. It is very important to take x-rays and digital images during every dental treatment because about 70% of the tooth is below the gum line. This lets you check the health of your pet’s teeth below the gum line for proper cat and dog dental care.

Dental care at home is just as important. Our team will tell you to brush your pet’s teeth every day with pet toothpaste and dental rinses. You could also suggest a diet that lowers tartar, like Hill’s T/D Prescription Diet or Healthy Advantage. Between visits, CET dental chews are a great way to keep tartar from building up. Your dentist will help you find a home care plan that fits your needs and the needs of your pet. It’s because every pet is different that there isn’t a single way to take care of their teeth that works for all of them. We think that dental care for pets should be a part of their yearly checkups so that they get the best possible vet care.

Veterinary Dental Specialists

There are treatments that can help if your pet has been identified with a tooth or periodontal illness. Now you can get laser treatment for your pet’s mouth to help it stay healthy. Therapy lasers help gums heal faster, ease the pain of tooth extractions, and reduce the swelling that comes with gingivitis. Laser therapy can also be used once a month to keep gingivitis under control or get rid of it completely and stop tartar from forming. It is possible to remove broken, infected, or otherwise unhealthy teeth through surgery with both feline and canine dental care. Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth, MA can be reached at 508-996-3731 to make an appointment, ask about dental care for pets, or find out more about the full range of veterinarian services we offer.