Just like humans, pets need dental care to make sure they are comfortable and healthy. Periodontal disease in pets is extremely common, by the age of three years old many pets are already showing early signs of periodontal disease. As it progresses over the years, this disease can not only lead to problems in the mouth (like pain, infections, and jaw damage), but also contributes to health problems with the liver, kidneys, and heart as bacteria from the diseased teeth and gums travels into the bloodstream.

While some may initially think it is silly, it is for the reasons described above that we recommend owners brush their pet’s teeth daily/several times a week if possible to prevent the buildup of plaque and tartar. If you have never brushed your pet’s teeth before, it may take some training to teach your pet that this can be a positive experience. Many pet-safe toothpastes are flavored to aid in this.
Some pets may never become comfortable with brushing at home even with attempted training. 
Some other ways to keep up on dental health at home include:

• Dental water additives for pets
• Toys designed to scrub pet’s teeth as they chew (you can apply some pet toothpaste to these as well so they can “brush” their teeth themselves!)
• Dental treats

Ask our staff about the dental products we have available!

To remove built up tartar and plaque we perform dental cleanings, scaling and polishing the teeth similar to a human teeth cleaning procedure. Following American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines, we only do cleanings while a pet is under anaesthesia. This allows us to minimize pain and stress and provide a more thorough cleaning.
To make sure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anaesthesia, we require a blood work panel to be run prior.

For more information or to schedule a cleaning, give us a call!