When your pets breath starts to smell bad it’s probably due to a dental issue. Oral health plays a vital role in keeping your pet healthy and helps give them a better chance at living a longer life. Bacteria in the mouth forms a sticky, invisible substance known as plaque. If the plaque is left alone it will start to calcify and become tartar. If left untreated it can cause inflammation of the gums, gum recession and eventually lead to tooth loss. The bacteria can enter the bloodstream causing infections and eventually make its way to internal organs, causing serious illnesses like kidney, liver, and/ or heart disease.

In order to thoroughly evaluate your pet’s oral cavity and perform a proper dental cleaning your pet will need to be anesthetized. To make sure your pet, young or old, is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia blood work is necessary and will be tailored to your pet’s needs. While your pet is under anesthesia each individual tooth is examined and “charted” (the amount of tartar and gingivitis is recorded as well as the depth of any gingival pockets, and enamel defects, etc). All tartar is removed and a disclosing solution is applied to make any plaque still present visible so it may also be removed. The teeth are then polished to remove any imperfections and to create a smooth, clean, surface. The whole mouth is flushed to remove any debris left. If anything is questionable once the initial charting is done, radiographs are taken and based on these findings a recommendation is made as to whether the tooth can be saved or if extraction is necessary. During the entire dental process a dedicated technician is monitoring your pet to make sure all vitals are stable and to maintain a good anesthetic plane. When the procedure is finished your pet is recovered in a padded, heated run so that they stay warm and comfortable. The vast majority of dental patients go home the same day. After your pet’s dental cleaning you have a clean, fresh, surface on which to start your home care. Brushing the teeth of your pet should ideally be done daily to help reduce the buildup of plaque but 2-3 times a week will still help. You should start home dental care with your pet when they are a puppy or kitten as this will help them get use to having you maneuver your finger or a brush around in their mouth. Although they will lose their baby teeth they will already be used to the routine when their permanent teeth come in. It is never too late to introduce brushing to your pet – ask us how to teach an old dog (or cat) a new trick!

 If you are unable to brush your pet’s teeth, there are other options to help slow down the bacterial growth that causes plaque. These options include dental diets or treats, water additives, oral rinses, and dental chews. 95% of pets will have periodontal disease in their lifetime and the vast majority need their first cleaning by 2-3 years of age especially if home care cannot be performed regularly. Keeping your pet’s mouth healthy has a positive effect on other organs too, so schedule your pet’s dental cleaning today or call us to help you get started with home care.