Dental Care is important for every dog and cat. Complete radiographs of a pet’s mouth is necessary to see which teeth are viable and healthy.
Periodontal disease has been associated with diabetes, kidney disease, liver infections and heart disease in human as well as in your pet’s health. Dental disease is just as painful to your pet as it is for you.
We recommend starting dental care at a young age to prevent periodontal disease. We send home sample dental kits with every puppy and kitten so the habit of brushing teeth and using dental treats begins at an impressionable age. Annual dental examinations and when necessary dental cleanings are recommended. It is important to use some form of at-home dental care to keep your pet’s teeth healthy between cleanings.
By three years of age, most pets have some degree of periodontal disease. The signs of dental disease can vary in dogs and cats. These may present as any of the following and early veterinary examination is important:
-
- Bad breath
-
- Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
-
- Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area
-
- Drooling or dropping food from the mouth
-
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Loss of appetite or loss of weight
Dental cleanings at Fountain Inn Animal Clinic consist of the following:
-
- Diagnostic blood work
-
- Anesthesia
-
- Complete radiographs of the mouth
-
- Removal of the tartar from the visible tooth and from under the gum where the real disease is located
-
- Measuring the depth of the sulcus looking for pockets of disease
-
- Tooth extractions when necessary
-
- Polishing the teeth
- Sealing the tooth post polishing