Everything You Need to Know About Getting Your Pet's Teeth Cleaned
Did you know you can prevent serious health risks to major organs through prevention dental care? It’s true! And that is exactly why teeth cleaning for your cherished pet is so important. Caring for your pet’s dental care will prevent other health problems in the future and will save your pet care dollars for treating other illnesses in the future.
We will cover:
Initial Visit - What to expect
Why Pet Dental Care Is Important
A healthy mouth makes for a healthy pet (not to mention better breath.) An unhealthy mouth not only leads to periodontal disease but, that buildup of bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and affect other areas in their body causing serious health problems.
Pets can be very close-mouthed (Pun intended.) when it comes to dental issues. Regular teeth cleanings and checkups will prevent small problems from progressing to serious health concerns.
Your vet will help keep your pet’s teeth from wearing out and can prevent tooth loss. Dog or cat teeth cleaning will prevent current problems from getting worse and prevent periodontal disease.
Getting Started - Initial Pet Teeth Cleaning
This is often done as part of your annual wellness visit or a stand-alone visit. A team member will conduct an oral exam to identify any visible issues and your vet will go over your pets general activities, diet etc. to try to understand if there are any existing concerns. This is a great opportunity to ask questions about home care for your pets teeth.
Next Step - The Cleaning
For teeth cleaning, your pet will be put under anesthesia, for their comfort and safety and for the safety of those working on them. We know anesthesia can feel scary to pet parents but if your vet has any concerns they'll run blood tests prior to administering anesthesia.
While under anesthesia, a full cleaning will follow for removing plaque from your dog’s teeth. All tartar on your pet’s teeth will be removed with an ultra sonic scaler, then polished with a low-speed polisher.
The anesthesia will also allow the doctor or technician to perform a complete oral exam to identify any problems that could cause painful problems like broken teeth, periodontal disease, dead teeth, abscesses or infected teeth.
Your pet’s teeth cleaning will include professional scaling and polishing on the visible parts of the teeth, giving your pet a healthy clean mouth. The process is then finished with a rinsing out the mouth. No more sour breath! And now your dental cleaning process is wrapped up.
Aftercare & Advanced Treatment
Usually, your pet is able to go home after recovery unless an additional procedure is necessary. The teeth cleaning process will make for a tender mouth and it may be good to hold off on food for a bit.
Additionally, anesthesia can cause some digestive upset so soft, bland foods might be just the comfort food your pet needs. Ask your vet for confirmation.
If additional issues are identified, your vet will schedule follow up appointments.
Maintaining That Beautiful Smile
Dental health checkups should happen at least once a year. Some pets may require a checkup every six months; it honestly just depends on your pet’s individual needs. You can trust the veterinarians at Chipman Road Animal Clinic to know exactly what your pet’s teeth cleaning requirements are.
Routine home teeth cleaning maintenance will go a long way to benefit your pet and can prolong the need for professional teeth cleaning. There are several commercially available dog safe options from brushes, chews, finger brushes, dog specific tooth paste and more.
Do not use toothpaste made for humans. The 'sweet' flavor of human toothpaste is often accomplished using sweeteners such as Xylitol which is toxic to dogs.
You may need to try a few different options to find the best way for you and your pet to keep their teeth clean with minimum fuss.
Still Worried About Cleaning Your Pets Teeth? Come See Us
