Regular dental care does more than just keep your pet’s teeth white and prevent bad breath. A cat or dog’s plaque and tartar build-up can lead to periodontal disease. If left untreated, periodontal disease can result in bacteria entering your pet’s bloodstream, which can cause additional problems to the pet’s liver, kidneys and heart.
VCA West Suburban Veterinary Hospital offers complete veterinary dental care for dogs and cats. In fact, we have received extensive on-site training by board certified veterinary dentists.
Often, digital dental x-rays catch problems before they are serious. Generally, pets have tooth pain months before the owner becomes aware of something wrong.
Your Pet’s Dental Cleaning
Veterinary dental cleaning is much different than the process you undergo each year at the dentist. Veterinary dentistry is considerably more involved, time-consuming and complex. Cleaning your pet’s teeth requires general anesthesia, and consequently, a day of hospitalization. The skills of several people, from veterinarians to veterinary technicians and animal attendants, are required for each dental procedure.
Your pet’s dental cleaning at VCA West Suburban Veterinary Hospital begins with a physical examination. Then your pet is given an anesthetic for a safe and painless sleep during the dental cleaning.
The first part of dental cleaning requires the removal of tartar. This is done with a hand scaler. Next, an ultrasonic scaler is used to clean above the gumline while a curette cleans the teeth under the gumline in the crevice. Then your pet’s teeth are polished and the gums are washed with an anti-bacterial solution to help delay tartar build-up.
Caring for Your Pet’s Teeth at Home
Regular veterinary cleanings are important for your pet, but you can keep up with your pet’s dental health care at home. A staff member can show you how to brush your pet’s teeth.