There are a few significant barriers to modern veterinary dental care. For starters, some pets are at high risk for procedures conducted under anesthesia. While the risk to healthy pets is very small, some owners worry that the benefits of pet dental do not exceed any possible risks or side effects of anesthesia. Then, of course, there are financial restraints that preclude dental cleanings and/or extractions.
At Sky Canyon Animal Hospital, we understand what pet owners face when it comes to this important element of preventive care. That’s why we provide gentle, anesthesia-free dentistry as a way to safeguard a pet’s health and promote overall wellness.
A Central Factor
Dental disease is preventable, but a majority of pets over age 3 are affected by plaque and tartar. Left alone, gum disease progresses from inflammation and infection to tooth loss and pain.
Routine pet dental cleanings aim to remove plaque and tartar before lasting damage to the gums occurs. When a pet’s teeth are regularly brushed at home and professionally cleaned annually, we are positively influencing their long-term health and vitality.
Kittie or Doggie Breath
Bad breath is caused by bad bacteria. If you start to notice a foul, sulfurous odor coming from a pet’s mouth a dental exam is a good next step.
Non-anesthesia pet dentistry involves a gentle cleaning of the teeth. Hand scaling removes plaque while polishing and fluoride treatment enhance the natural beauty of the teeth, and protect from decay. This is a safe, cost-effective approach to pet dental care and may stave off the need for more intensive procedures.
When More Help Is Needed
Some pets have advanced dental disease that requires a more intensive approach than a non-anesthesia cleaning service. If we see broken teeth, bleeding gums, and other signs of infection, we may recommend a full dental cleaning, exam, X-rays, and extraction (if necessary) to be safely conducted under general anesthesia.
What You Can Expect
We evaluate a pet’s ability to withstand anesthesia by way of advanced diagnostics, including a complete blood profile. We monitor their vital signs before, during and after the procedure to ensure they are safely handling the anesthetic.
We rely on these dental tools to evaluate any abnormalities and create a treatment plan:
- Full digital radiographs, or X-rays, help us understand the extent of dental disease beneath the gum line. We may see bone loss, tooth cracks, fractures, abscesses, and more on digital X-rays.
- Probes help us understand the depth of any pockets formed by gum recession. We deep-clean these pockets, removing any oral bacteria that could cause further damage. Probes (and X-rays) help determine whether extractions are necessary.
- Medication, including antibiotics and pain relief, are necessary to recover from dental cleanings and extractions.
Why Pet Dental Cleanings Matter
In addition to reducing bad breath, eliminating pain, and promoting future wellness, dental cleanings have an impact on systemic illness, like heart, liver, or kidney disease. The removal of plaque and tartar decreases the risk of oral bacteria traveling through the bloodstream to the body’s major organs.
We are Always Here For Your Pet
Our staff at Sky Canyon Animal Hospital are always here to help you with questions or concerns. Please call us at (951) 461-4100.