Pet Dental Care: It’s About Their Health!
Try going 5 years without brushing your teeth or even a dental cleaning. It definitely wouldn’t be a pretty site. But most importantly, your teeth and overall health would be at serious risk for a number of diseases.
Now think about the last time your pet had a good dental cleaning. Has it been over a year? Three? Longer?!! Your pet’s dental health is just as important as yours. According to the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), “By the age of three, most dogs and cats have some degree of dental disease.”
Early signs of dental disease include bad breath, yellow tartar buildup on the teeth, and red and swollen gums. The importance of early detection is critical to help provide proper dental care and avoid advanced periodontal disease. If left undetected, dental disease can progress to pain and inflammation. According to the American Veterinary Medical Foundation (AVMF), “Periodontal disease doesn’t just affect your pet’s mouth. Other health problems found in association with periodontal disease include kidney, liver, and heart muscle changes.”
What Happens During A Professional Pet Dental Cleaning?
Unlike a cleaning from your dentist, pets are anesthetized during their dental procedure. This insures they remain still and calm to keep them safe while we clean their teeth. Anesthesia helps reduce their anxiety, stress, and pain. It also protects the airway from water and plaque scaling that could enter your pet’s lungs during the procedure.
At all times during the dental cleaning procedure your pet is kept comfortable and vital signs are continuously monitored. The vet will remove all plaque and tarter from the teeth. Additional checks will also be made during the cleaning process to address any other pockets of infection or tooth damage should they exist.
Once the procedure is complete your pet will be closely watched and cared for as they gently awake from the anesthesia. Most pets will be able to leave the same day with a beautiful, clean smile!
Schedule Your Pet’s Cleaning and Get 20% Off in October
At AVAC we are passionate about keeping pets happy and healthy. For the month of October, we are offering a dental cleaning special. Book your pet dental cleaning for October and get 20% off.
Julie Grimes, DVM
