Whether you’re a seasoned pet owner or fresh out of puppy school, you’ve probably heard about the importance of good dental health for our furry friends. But, did you know you should have your pet’s teeth and oral cavity checked by a veterinarian at least once a year? If you don’t look in your dog or cat’s mouth regularly, you’re not alone. But, their oral hygiene should be a top priority. Here’s why:

Dental disease is exceedingly common in pets

Shockingly, around two-thirds of dogs and cats older than 3 years have visible dental disease signs, such as plaque, tartar, or gingivitis. Additionally, approximately 27.8% of dogs and 41.7% of cats had evidence of disease on dental X-ray images, despite their teeth looking normal to the naked eye. These statistics make it obvious—dental disease is a real problem in pets. Not to mention, pets can have other dental problems, too. Young puppies or kittens may suffer from retained primary teeth, and other pets may deal with broken or misaligned teeth. 

Dental disease can occur quickly and silently

When we don’t brush our teeth for a day or two, we develop unpleasant signs, such as bad breath or plaque buildup on our teeth. Well, the same goes for our pets, if we don’t offer them a similar dental hygiene routine. Not surprisingly, after a few days, weeks, or months, a simple plaque film can calcify into hard tartar that forms under the gumline, leading to a painful inflammation known as gingivitis. Eventually, this can lead to tooth decay, infection, and abscessation—in only a matter of months.

Dental disease can impact the entire body

Dental health involves so much more than fresh breath and pearly whites. An unhealthy mouth can have detrimental effects on your pet’s other body systems, such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, putting your pet at risk for life-threatening conditions. 

Dental check-ups involve more than an oral exam

When you bring in your pet for a dental check-up at American Canyon Veterinary Hospital, we perform a full physical examination, in addition to a dental problem assessment. This offers an excellent opportunity to screen your pet for other diseases, and to discuss any issues you may be having with your pet at home. Think of your furry friend’s annual dental check-up as part of their routine preventive care—something they should have at least once per year. 

Prioritize your pet’s oral health by contacting our veterinary team to schedule an initial consultation. We will assess your pet’s teeth, gums, tongue, and other oral structures, and tailor a plan specific to your individual pet, which often involves a secondary appointment for an anesthetic teeth cleaning. In that case, here’s what to expect with the cleaning procedure:

  1. You will drop your pet off the morning of their procedure and pick them up later that afternoon.
  2. General anesthesia is necessary to achieve a thorough and safe dental cleaning in pets, and we take every precaution to ensure your pet is healthy enough to receive this treatment. We will perform a preliminary examination and any necessary laboratory tests to assess your pet’s internal functioning.
  3. Your pet will receive a sedative medication before anesthesia induction. Once the monitoring equipment is placed, our veterinary team will perform a thorough oral examination, assessing for missing, mobile, or infected teeth, and tartar, plaque, gingivitis, and other abnormalities.
  4. Since dental disease is often hiding below the gumline, dental X-rays are necessary for an accurate assessment.
  5. Once all oral areas have been examined, the teeth are cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler, and any necessary extractions or other treatments are performed. 
  6. All the teeth are polished and rinsed before we gently wake your pet up from anesthesia. 

Your pet may be sent home with pain medications or antibiotics depending on the disease severity and treatments performed. A recheck appointment may be necessary, as well. When you pick up your pet after their procedure, we will go over in detail all our findings and recommendations, including suggestions for an at-home dental hygiene regimen. This may include toothbrushing, oral rinsing, using dental wipes or water additives, or a specialized diet. 

At American Canyon Veterinary Hospital, we know that your pet’s oral health is extremely important for their overall fitness. Contact us to set up an appointment, or if you have any questions or concerns.