Routine dental exams and professional cleaning

Here at the WesternU Pet Health Center, your pet’s preventive dental care is a priority. Our veterinarians perform basic oral exams on all our patients during their physical exam. Puppies and kittens will be examined to detect any problems related to the deciduous (baby) teeth, missing or extra teeth, swellings, and oral development. Adult and senior pets will be evaluated for developmental anomalies, the accumulation of plaque and tartar, periodontal disease, and oral tumors.

The American Veterinary Dental Society reports that 80{6c03b0f430b2c33e5e8ac675430e01c2f2734ca19cb6d446e1d258944e626a1b} of dogs and 70{6c03b0f430b2c33e5e8ac675430e01c2f2734ca19cb6d446e1d258944e626a1b} of cats show signs of oral disease by the age of 3. Dental disease doesn’t affect just the mouth. It can lead to more serious health problems including heart, lung, and kidney disease, which makes it all the more important that you provide your pets with proper dental care from the start. The American Animal Hospital Association recommends veterinary dental procedures at least annually starting at one year of age for cats and small-breed dogs, and at two years of age for large-breed dogs.

Depending on the level or grade of periodontal disease found in your pet, your veterinarian will recommend a wide variety of options to ensure your pet’s dental health. This could range from brushing your pet’s teeth to providing dental chews or pet-safe mouth wash, all the way to professional dental cleanings done by your veterinarian and hospital staff.

Prior to these professional cleanings, our hospital staff will obtain a blood sample to determine whether or not your pet is a good candidate for anesthesia. Once the staff is confident that your pet is a good candidate for anesthesia and dental procedure, your pet will be placed on IV fluids. Your pet will then be monitored, by a trained professional while a Registered Veterinary Technician performs a professional scaling and polishing of your pet’s teeth. Once the pet is recovered after surgery, they are closely monitored until they are safely picked up at the end of the day. At that time, a veterinary technician will provide go-home instructions and what to expect when at home, keeping you well informed throughout the whole process.

Routine and preventive dental care is vital to your pet’s long-term health. Pets with poor oral hygiene can develop periodontal disease, which can often lead to heart, lung, and kidney disease. WesternU Pet Health Center offers a full range of dental services for cats and dogs including dental examinations, dental extractions, and oral surgery, as well as home care instructions for keeping your dog’s or cat’s teeth clean and healthy. Dental exams, coupled with routine check-ups and at-home care, can be a great preventive tool for your pets.