Did you know? Proper dental care keeps your pet healthy and chomping happily away. Dental disease can result in painful damage to the teeth and gums and even internal organ damage, but the good news is that YOU can help us keep your pet smiling inside and out. The best way to keep your pet's mouth (and entire body!) healthy is through proper dental care at home and regular, thorough dental evaluation and cleaning by your veterinarian. If you have questions or concerns about your pet's dental health or would like to schedule an appointment, please don't hesitate to call us. Let's make this the year of sweet doggy kisses and healthy kitty grins!

We know, we can sometimes sound like a broken record on the topic of dental health, but we’re not exaggerating when we talk about its importance to your pet’s overall health. Dental disease can cause a number of painful and dangerous medical problems including periodontal disease, rotten or abscessed teeth, sinus and jaw infections, bacterial infection and even organ damage. Sometimes you might notice signs of dental disease in your pet such as: Bad breath (halitosis) Broken tooth/teeth Excessive drooling Reluctance to eat, especially dry food, or to play with chew toys Chewing with or favoring one side of the mouth Pawing at or rubbing the muzzle/mouth Click here to learn more about signs of dental problems. At home, you can brush your pet’s teeth. Ask us to show you how at your pet’s next visit, or to read some helpful tips online, click here for dogs, and click here for cats. If you’re already brushing your pet’s teeth regularly, consider yourself stamped with a giant gold star by us for excellence in pet care! There may also be dental treats, foods, rinses, or additives appropriate for your pet, so be sure to ask us for our recommendations. Keep in mind, if your pet already has significant dental plaque present, a dental cleaning may be in order before you begin a home care regimen. Another key thing you can do for your pet’s dental health is scheduling regular dental treatments according to the timing we recommend. Some pets need annual dentals, some more or less frequently. We’ll evaluate your pet’s dental health at his or her wellness visits and let you know if a dental is needed. Wondering what a pet dental entails? At a basic level, your pet's dental is similar to your own routine dentist visit. Like your dentist, we: Probe for pockets in the gums and between the teeth that could allow bacteria to grow. May take oral x-rays to check for damage to the teeth and jaw below the gumline. Clean the teeth above and below the gumline, where the plaque causes problems. Develop a treatment plan for any problems we find on examination. We hope this article has helped to illustrate the importance of dental health for pets. If you’re not sure how to get started, please ask us!