At Cheyenne Mountain Animal Hospital, we take your pet’s health very seriously, which is why we believe pet dental care is one of the most important aspects of your pet’s health.
Your pet’s oral health can have a large impact on their overall health and potentially lead to more serious health problems such as liver, heart or kidney disease. Our team recommends scheduling cat and dog teeth cleanings and examinations annually so we can make sure your pet’s teeth stay healthy and strong.
How to Know Your Pet Requires Dental Care
Pets experience pain just like humans do, however because they can’t tell us they’re feeling any pain, its up to us to know what to look for to discern if pets are in pain or require dental care. Fortunately, there are some symptoms and behaviors that may indicate your pet needs dental care including:
Bad breath
Broken, loose, or missing teeth
Discoloration or tartar build up
Excessive chewing or drooling
Reduced appetite or inability to chew
Swelling and bleeding in or around the mouth
Managing Your Pet’s Dental Care
When you bring your pet to Cheyenne Mountain Animal Hospital for a dental appointment, we will evaluate their health prior to placing an IV catheter to provide fluids and anesthesia. Your pet is placed under anesthesia to allow our team to perform a complete assessment and cleaning. Once your pet is under general anesthesia, we will perform the following oral health procedure:
- Clean above and below the gum line so our team can make an accurate assessment of your pet’s teeth and mouth as well as help prevent periodontal disease
- Evaluate your pet’s teeth and mouth for tongue or lip lesions, deep pockets in the gums around the teeth and loose, broken or discolored teeth
- Perform advanced dental X-rays to enable our team to assess your pet’s entire mouth, including any issues below the gum line including root abscesses or fractures, severe bone loss of the jaw, and cystic lesions
- Polish the teeth to reverse the roughening effects that would promote plaque build up
- Provide a fluoride treatment to help strengthen and protect your pet’s teeth
- Administer necessary treatments for any issues discovered during the evaluation
