Dog or Cat Breath? Oral and Dental Care for Healthier Pets
Maintaining a healthy mouth is an important part of your pet’s health. Periodontal disease is the most common ailment found in dogs and cats over 4 years of age. Often the first sign of dental disease, bad breathe, is largely overlooked because bad breath is so common among pets. However, bad breath is caused by bacteria that over time lead to plague and tartar build-up on your pet’s teeth and can cause more serious health problems such a heart, liver and kidney disease. As dental disease progresses other signs can include:
- Yellowish of Brown Discolored Teeth
- Red or Swollen Gums
- Bleeding Gums
- Decreased Appetite or Difficulty Swallowing
- Loose or Missing Teeth
- Facial Swelling on upper or lower jaws
- Excessive Drooling
Regular oral preventative care will help to maintain your pet’s long term oral hygiene and overall can increase the longevity of the life of your pet. But how do you know if your pet has a healthy mouth? At every wellness examination Auburn Veterinary Hospital’s veterinarians will perform a brief visual oral exam, after which they may recommend a more detailed examination, dental prophylaxis (cleaning) or options for at home care. The dental health program called Oral ATP (Assessment, Treatment & Prevention) includes:
- Dental Consultation with a staff veterinarianDentistry
- Pre-Anesthetic Screening Blood work
- Pre-Anesthetic Antibiotic Injection
- IV Catheter Placement & Fluid Administration
- Induction and Inhalation Anesthesia
- Cardiac, Respiratory and Temperature Monitoring
- Continuous Observation during Anesthetic Recovery Period
- Comprehensive cleaning and polishing
- Ultrasonic Removal of Calculus & Tartar Build-Up
- Scaling to Remove Additional plaque & calculus
- Charting and Staging of Teeth
- Root planning under gum line as needed
- Polishing following scaling
- Discharge Instructions for At-Home After Care
- Recommendations for frequency of future dental assessments
Can you imagine never brushing your teeth? Dental hygiene is an important part of your pet’s health and shouldn’t be taken for granted. Fortunately, many dental problems can be managed with regular oral preventative care at home and regular wellness visits. Please feel free to call Auburn Veterinary Hospital with any questions and to schedule a dental consultation!
