Our Approach to Pet Dentistry
Oral and dental health is one of the most important aspects of your pet’s overall health. At Alma Vet Connection, we place a high priority on this part of our patient’s health. That is why all of our dental procedures include:
- Scaling
- Polishing
- Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment (by our veterinarian charting each tooth)
- Dental Radiographs
All of these procedures occur while our skilled team safely monitors your pet under anesthesia.
Annual dental cleanings and polishing are recommended (just like humans) and should start at an early age. Dental disease (periodontal disease) is the most common clinical condition occurring in adult dogs and cats. But, it is entirely preventable. Unfortunately, there are often few signs of the disease process evident to the owner other than bad breath. Professional dental cleaning and periodontal therapy often comes too late to prevent extensive disease or to save teeth. As a result, periodontal disease is usually under-treated, may cause multiple problems in the oral cavity, and may be associated with damage to internal organs in some patients as they age.
Untreated periodontal disease can also cause tooth abscesses, gum infections, and/or bone loss. These can be painful for your pet to experience and costly for you to manage. Studies in humans have linked periodontal disease to a variety of health problems, including poor control of diabetes mellitus and increased severity of diabetic complications. Additionally, it has been shown that diabetes is a risk factor for periodontal disease.
Symptoms of Poor Oral Health
- Bad Breath
- Changes in Eating or Chewing Behavior
- Abnormal Drooling
- Brownish-Yellow Crust on Teeth
- Gums Bleeding
- Tooth Loss
- Change in Behavior
If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, our veterinarian should examine them to fully assess any issues and develop a treatment plan.
Things You Can Do At Home
- Brushing your pet’s teeth daily will help stimulate healthy gums, which helps deter additional plaque buildup.
- You can feed your pet a dental-based diet or treats. Ask your veterinarian for a recommendation based on your pet’s needs.