VCA Animal Care Center of Sonoma County
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Open
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Mon-Sun:
Open 24 hours
VCA Animal Care Center of Sonoma County
707-584-4343
Chris Carter, DVM, FAVD, graduated from Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1999 with no training in dentistry. In 2004, he began to recognize the overwhelming number of his patients that had painful mouths and started pursuing training in this under-served area. In 2010, he became a Fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentistry and now only treats dental and oral conditions in dogs and cats and an occasional bear, gorilla or tiger. In 2014, after 6 years in a referral practice in Flower Mound, Texas, Dr. Carter started Companion Animal Dental Solutions to make advanced treatment more convenient for pet owners and to increase awareness among veterinary team members by providing services in multiple clinics in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. In 2016, Dr. Carter joined the VCA Animal Care Center.
From time to time, your general practice veterinarian may feel your pet needs the expertise of a veterinary dentist for certain conditions, such as root canal therapy or complicated oral surgery. In addition, veterinary dentists also often have access to more sophisticated diagnostic equipment and treatment options that can enhance the outcome of your pet's case. In addition, they have advanced knowledge about the most appropriate pain control and medication options needed to treat your pet's dental problems.
It is very important to remember that dental disease is the most common problem to affect small animals of any age. In fact, veterinary experts estimate that up to 80% of dogs and 70% of cats that do not receive proper dental care will develop signs of dental disease by the age of three. For these reasons, it is very important that your pet receives regular dental care and cleanings from your general practice veterinarian and, when required, more advanced care from a veterinary dentist.
You can be assured that a veterinarian who knows when to refer you and your pet to a veterinary dentist is one that is caring and committed to ensuring that your pet receives the highest level of care for their problem.
Veterinary dentists can perform all routine veterinary care, such as routine dental examinations and cleanings. They are also trained to handle more complicated problems requiring major oral surgery, endodontics (root canal therapy), extractions, and orthodontics (yes, pets can wear braces, too!). Oral masses or lesions, broken teeth, broken jaws, oral tumors, and malocclusion should also be examined by a veterinary dentist.
Your regular veterinarian will still supervise your pet's overall veterinary care, and will consult with the veterinary dentist regarding any pre or post treatment care. In general, the veterinary dentist treats the problem and reports findings and recommendations back to your general practice veterinarian. In some practices, only non-routine or complicated cases are referred to a veterinary dentist; in other practices, all dental care is referred to a veterinary dentist.
Hospital Hours:
Mon-Sun: Open 24 hours