Pets have dental disease just like you do and can often be the cause of serious illness. Dental problems, if left untreated, can often lead to larger systemic problems in your pet due to oral bacteria entering the blood stream and damaging the kidneys, heart and liver.
Companion Animal Hospital provides dental care for all of its patients. We check the teeth routinely during every full physical exam, and can help your pet with any problems they may have.
Some Signs of Dental Problems include:
- Bad breath - one of the first signs of dental disease
- A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line
- Red and swollen gums
- Pain or bleeding when your pet eats or when the mouth or gums are touched
- Decreased appetite or difficulty eating
- Loose or missing teeth
Cleaning a pet's teeth requires general anesthesia, and each patient goes through the same preparations and protocols as a surgical patient. The skills of several people, from veterinarians to veterinary technicians and animal attendants are required for each procedure.
After appropriate pre-anesthetic screening, the Companion Animal Hospital staff performs cleanings, scaling, assessment of tooth and gum health and extractions. Teeth cleanings are day long procedures that allow your pet to go home the same day after fully recovering from anesthesia.