When the Veterinarian examines your pet’s mouth he or she can see the general health of the teeth and gums. Our dental unit is equipped with a digital dental radiography system that allows them to see beyond the obvious and examine the teeth and their supporting structures below the gumline, exposing hidden problems.
When your dog or cat comes in for dentistry, he will be anesthetized, have an IV catheter placed and intravenous fluids will be administered. He will be placed on a warm water circulating blanket and his vital signs, including heart rate, respiratory rate and overall anesthetic depth, will be carefully monitored by one of our Licensed Veterinary Technicians.
After radiographs of the mouth have been taken and evaluated by the doctor, the Technician will clean the crowns, use a probe to measure any periodontal pockets, chart any abnormalities and finish by polishing the teeth. The veterinarian will evaluate the radiographs and view the teeth after the tartar has been removed to determine if there is a need for any extractions.
Did You Know?
Almost all pets over the age of 3 have some form of dental disease! Could your pet be at risk? Click here to find out!
If extractions are necessary, your pet will receive additional injections for pain, including an Anti-Inflammatory and an Opioid, as well as an Antibiotic injection. We will also send home additional oral pain medication and an oral Antibiotic.
Once your pet is done with the procedure, he will be removed from the gas anesthesia and closely observed while he recovers. He will stay on IV fluids until shortly before he goes home. When you come in to pick-up your pet, we will go over all your pet’s home-care instructions with you and answer any questions you might have.
“Bad breath is normal in dogs and cats.”
This is incorrect, as just like in our mouths, halitosis (bad breath) is caused by bacterial infections and leads to cavities, gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Your veterinarian can help your pet avoid these common diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, by examining their mouth carefully at the annual preventative care exam, and any time that you notice symptoms of bad breath, red gums, dropped food, decreased appetite or change in personality. Many pets will show no signs of discomfort. It has been shown that 85% of all pets will have some form of tooth or gum disease by the time they are only 3 years old! Your veterinarian can help your pet avoid these common diseases, such as gingivitis and periodontal disease, by examining their mouth carefully at the annual preventative care exam, and any time that you notice symptoms of bad breath, red gums, dropped food, decreased appetite or change in personality.
The first step to making sure your pet has a healthy mouth is to bring her in so that one of our veterinarians may perform a thorough dental exam. We will assess your pet’s mouth for foul breath, redness of the gums (gingivitis), loss of gum tissue around the teeth (periodontal disease), and broken or chipped teeth. We will then give you a recommendation on how to continue to keep your pet’s teeth healthy, or we will recommend a dental procedure under anesthesia.
To learn more about dog dentistry or cat dentistry, contact Ballston Spa Veterinary Clinic today!
Watch our dental video.