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While most people know good dental hygiene is important to their health, they may not realize it is also important to their pet's health. Dental disease is the most commonly diagnosed medical condition in pets. Most dogs and cats over four years of age have painful teeth. Symptoms of dental disease may include: bad breath, altered eating habits, facial pain or swelling, bleeding or inflamed gums, sneezing and/or nasal discharge.
Localized infections, called abcesses, may form around the roots of diseased teeth causing a great deal of discomfort. Perhaps the most serious effect of dental disease is that the bacteria on the teeth may gain access to the blood stream and damage the pet's internal organs such as the heart, kidneys or liver.
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| Dr. Garrison is extracting one of "Shadow's" pre-molars. Dental x-rays showed the tooth to have a broken and infected root. | "Shadow" came in for a routine dental. His owners had not observed any signs of a painful tooth. | |
Dental cleaning in pets requires general anesthesia, which is a concern to many owners. At Pet Dominion, we reduce the risks associated with anesthesia to the lowest possible level by using pre-anesthetic blood testing, IV fluid administration, modern gas anesthesia and state-of-the-art monitoring equipment.
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| Dr. Bassett is checking "Darby's" mouth for any abnormalities. "Darby" is a six year old lab mix who was here for a routine dental. | Inga is taking x-rays of "Darby's" mouth. Dental x-rays are a part of every dental at Pet Dominion. | |
A thorough dental includes scaling the teeth above and below the gum line, polishing the tooth surfaces and a fluoride treatment. Antibiotics are administered during the procedure to help prevent infection. Since only 20% of the dental anatomy is visible to the naked eye, dental x-rays may reveal signs of broken, abcessed or resorptive roots and bone tumors, cysts or infections in the mouth.
A good dental program for pets also incorporates home dental care. Daily brushing with specially formulated toothpaste removes plaque, lessening the formation of tartar. However, not everyone is able to brush daily. We recommend applying OraVet sealant to protect the teeth as part of every dental cleaning followed by weekly at home applications of OraVet gel.
Dental disease in pets is painful and may lead to other health problems. Paying attention to your pets' mouths will help them live longer, more comfortable lives.
