Learn The Basics

Of dental care for your pet.

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Slide domestic cat teeth close-up Why should I be concerned about my pet's teeth? Dental disease is the most common, most diagnosed, most often- recognized health problem we see in our companion animals, but usually goes unaddressed.

As in people, plaque and tartar build up on the teeth. This is formed by the food particles and bacteria, which combine with salivary secretions where the teeth rise above the gum line. If this plaque is allowed to accumulate unchecked, it eventually causes a variety of dental conditions that range from mild discomfort and bad breath, all the way to root abscesses and difficulty eating.

Slide Signs your pet may be experiencing dental problems:
  • Bad breath
  • Trouble chewing or chewing on one side
  • Not wanting to chew on hard food or treats
  • Bleeding from the mouth
  • Not eating well or at all
  • Weight loss
  • Drooling
  • Loss of teeth/mobile teeth
  • Painful to be touched around mouth
  • Open sore underneath the eye or facial swelling
If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, please call our hospital immediately for a consultation and a complete oral therapy plan. white poodle dog with a toothbrush in the mouth

Slide white poodle dog with a toothbrush in the mouth Signs your pet may be experiencing dental problems:
  • Bad breath
  • Trouble chewing or chewing on one side
  • Not wanting to chew on hard food or treats
  • Bleeding from the mouth
  • Not eating well or at all
  • Weight loss
  • Drooling
  • Loss of teeth/mobile teeth
  • Painful to be touched around mouth
  • Open sore underneath the eye or facial swelling
If your pet is experiencing any of these symptoms, please call our hospital immediately for a consultation and a complete oral therapy plan.

Slide Consider the facts:
  • More than 80% of all dogs and cats two years of age and older have some degree of dental disease that requires treatment and/or preventative care.
  • If untreated, periodontal disease may lead to systemic disease, which can shower the lungs and body with bacteria. Heart, liver, and kidney disease may result and lead to a shortened life for your pet. We have even seen anemia and diabetes as a result of untreated dental disease over time as well. Not to mention the extreme pain that comes from progressive dental disease.
  • Most pets do not tell you how extreme the pain can be in their mouths until after a dental cleaning is done and they feel amazing again, usually better than before.
  • At Animal Dental Clinic, we believe pet dentistry should not be an elective procedure, rather a required component of routine preventative care similar to annual vaccinations, intestinal parasite and heartworm testing and nutritional counseling. Twice a year or annual dental cleanings is our goal, just like we do with ourselves.

Slide What you can do at home: Gently lift a lip and look at your pet's teeth. Gum problems occur when bacteria accumulate at the gum line and in time will appear as a yellow or brown accumulation of tartar on the teeth. Soon the gum will become red or swollen and a disagreeable odor will be present in your pet's breath. If left untreated this will progress to an eventual tooth loss. Disease of teeth in dogs, plaque of a tooth stone

Slide Disease of teeth in dogs, plaque of a tooth stone What you can do at home: Gently lift a lip and look at your pet's teeth. Gum problems occur when bacteria accumulate at the gum line and in time will appear as a yellow or brown accumulation of tartar on the teeth. Soon the gum will become red or swollen and a disagreeable odor will be present in your pet's breath. If left untreated this will progress to an eventual tooth loss.

Slide Female Hand holding toothbrush with toothpaste and yorkshire dog in background. We have a variety of products designed to help reduce tartar and plaque.
  • Dental diets used as a maintenance diet or treats
  • Tooth brushes and tooth pastes
  • A variety of oral chews to help remove plaque/bacteria
  • Cleansing wipes
  • Water additives used to reduce plaque and bacteria
  • Oravet wax sealant to provide a barrier against plaque and bacteria
We also have a variety of appropriate chew toys that can help eliminate broken teeth while providing your dog a safe toy to chew on.

Caring for your pet's teeth at home certainly reduces the frequency of professional care and the progression of dental disease. The frequency of dental prophylaxis varies between each pet and is dependent on the stage of the disease and ability of a pet owner to offer preventative home care.

Slide What can we do? Dental procedures are performed at Animal Dental Clinic Daily. Dental x-rays, ultrasonic scaling, polishing and periodontal surgery are some of the procedures we offer to our patients. We offer a variety of dental procedures to dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, hedgehogs and ferrets. We perform anesthetic dental procedures only ranging from the really young to the very old. We do not support anesthesia free dentistry due to the inability to perform a complete and thorough job, leaving the problem bacteria under the gum line and continuation of the disease. Dental x-rays cannot be performed without anesthesia and therefore you will never know the extent of disease you are missing.

Each year your pet should receive an oral examination as part of their annual well pet examination, and in some cases bi-annually. A complete oral examination is necessary in identifying abnormalities and forming a treatment plan. Many of the problems are quite apparent at the time of the exam, while others must be evaluated using an anesthetic. With this in mind we complete a comprehensive oral examination and charting at the time of a teeth cleaning or dental prophylaxis. Prophylactic Cleaning

Slide What can we do? Dental procedures are performed at Animal Dental Clinic Daily. Dental x-rays, ultrasonic scaling, polishing and periodontal surgery are some of the procedures we offer to our patients. We offer a variety of dental procedures to dogs, cats, rabbits, rodents, hedgehogs and ferrets. We perform anesthetic dental procedures only ranging from the really young to the very old. We do not support anesthesia free dentistry due to the inability to perform a complete and thorough job, leaving the problem bacteria under the gum line and continuation of the disease. Dental x-rays cannot be performed without anesthesia and therefore you will never know the extent of disease you are missing.

Each year your pet should receive an oral examination as part of their annual well pet examination, and in some cases bi-annually. A complete oral examination is necessary in identifying abnormalities and forming a treatment plan. Many of the problems are quite apparent at the time of the exam, while others must be evaluated using an anesthetic. With this in mind we complete a comprehensive oral examination and charting at the time of a teeth cleaning or dental prophylaxis. Prophylactic Cleaning