Full-Service Pet Dental Care
Keeping your pet’s teeth in good condition is important to his or her overall health. Because dogs and cats use their mouths for eating, playing, exploring, and getting your attention, many will have some type of dental problem even early in life.
Untreated dental problems can lead to kidney, heart, and liver disease. By the time you notice your pet has bad breath, yellow teeth, inflamed gums, or trouble eating, a teeth cleaning is overdue.
Outside Laboratory Testing
We use a reputable outside laboratory for standard blood and urine testing results. Our laboratory typically provides results within 24 hours, depending on the type of testing performed. We also use our outside laboratory for more in-depth testing such as skin scraping results, cultures, biopsies and other cytological results.
Routine Checkup
When you bring your pet in for an annual wellness check at Mid North Animal Hospital, we will always check teeth as part of the routine wellness exam. If we see cause for concern or notice the teeth need cleaning, we will recommend a full dental exam and cleaning under anesthesia. The procedure is similar to your trip to the dentist but requires anesthesia to ensure a complete professional assessment. A special appointment will need to be made for all dental procedures.
Anesthesia
All dental work is done under general anesthesia. Your pet unfortunately will not sit calmly while having deep dental work done in her mouth. To protect the veterinary staff and your pet, being put under anesthesia is the best solution. It is important that you do not feed your pet after midnight the night before the appointment. Your pet can still have water until the morning though.
We will do pre-surgery blood work to make sure your pet is healthy enough to be anesthetized. As the anesthetic is administered, a member of our staff constantly supervises your pet to ensure he or she is comfortably sedated. When the procedure is complete, monitoring continues until your pet is fully recovered.
Sending Your Pet Home
Your pet will be able to go home with you in the evening after having dental work done. We provide you with pain relief and antibiotics to be given at home as determined by your veterinarian. Do not be surprised if your pet does not eat or play normally for the next day or so. We will call to check with you to make sure everything is going smoothly but do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions or concerns.
Cleaning and X-rays
Keeping your pet’s teeth clean from tartar and plaque will go a long way in maintaining good oral hygiene. You should be brushing his or her teeth regularly at home. Complete professional dental care at the intervals recommended for your pet by his or her veterinarian will help to ensure strong and healthy teeth.
Dental care for your pet is not difficult, but it is very important. Do not rely on chew toys or bones to do the work; get a good toothbrush and start brushing your pet’s teeth while young, and it will become a normal routine for you both.
Make an appointment to have the teeth professionally cleaned today. Good oral hygiene will save your pet’s teeth and, in turn, improve his or her overall health.
