Ensuring proper pet dental care for your furry family member is crucial because dogs and cats explore the world primarily through their mouths. With healthy teeth and gums, your furry friend can enjoy a longer and happier life.
That’s why the experienced veterinarians at Jimbabwe Acres, PCW offer pet dental care services to help your pet maintain a beautiful smile, with your support as a responsible pet parent.
If your dog has bad breath, it could signal more than bad hygiene. If your cat has plaque buildup, mealtimes become painful and unenjoyable. However, we offer hope to you and your animals in the form of regular dental care. Let’s start with good hygiene tips and learning more about treatment available from our veterinarian in South Haven, MI.
Can You Help Your Furry Family Member Maintain Proper Pet Dental Care?
To make sure your pet’s teeth stay clean and healthy, start by scheduling dental checkups every year. This goes for kittens and puppies with baby teeth and older adult animals more prone to dental disease, tartar, and plaque buildup. Young adult pets also need regular teeth cleaning to ensure that their chompers last a lifetime.
If possible, brush your pet’s teeth every day. However, if you have an anxious or active dog, this might not always be possible. Fortunately, there are a few other things you can try to achieve a brighter, healthier canine or feline smile.
Try these tips to help your pet improve their oral hygiene:
- Use cavity-fighting water additives.
- Give your kitty, pup, or older animal a dental chew three to four times weekly.
- Look for tartar-busting foods to improve dental health.
- Schedule dental cleanings every year or as recommended by your pet dental expert.
What to Expect at a Dental Checkup?
When your pet receives a physical exam, the vet will also assess their dental health. At this time, you may receive instructions for preventive care at home. The most common follow-up care involves tooth extractions and cleanings. To address tooth decay, you may need to schedule an extraction. For gum disease, we often recommend a dental cleaning.
Restorative Dental Treatment
Like with humans, pets often develop dental disease early in life. Painful conditions develop from bacteria, plaque, and tartar on the teeth and under the gumline. Bacteria concentrated in your pet’s mouth can enter the bloodstream and cause numerous health problems. Your vet will assess the severity of any cavities found in your dog or cat’s mouth.
Shallow cavities often respond well to fluoride washes or bonding agents used to protect the site. In other cases, we may have to remove the tooth, which requires surgery.
During the surgery, there are two main options, filling the cavity or a performing root canal. Following the procedure, you receive careful instructions and support throughout the recovery period.
Signs your pet may need restorative dental treatment include the following:
- Bad breath
- Red gums
- Swelling
- Yellow tartar
Early Detection for Improved Dental Health
Early detection can prevent painful conditions caused by chronic inflammation and infections. Include a dental evaluation as part of your routine pet care to spare your animal unnecessary pain. It’s also easier to treat and less invasive to treat decay and other conditions before they become too serious.
Unfortunately, you can’t always tell how much your pet is suffering. Here are a few signs to help you detect pain from dental problems:
- Irritability
- Decreased appetite
- Lower energy
- Change in sleep patterns
With the right dental care, your pet can return to their normal behavior and enjoy their favorite foods and treats once again.
Why Does Pet Dental Care Often Involve Anesthesia?
Anesthesia saves your pet from anxiety and pain. It also enables the vet to fully evaluate tooth decay and other pet dental problems. Cleanings and other procedures involve sharp instruments used to scrape away plaque and tartar. For most pets, staying in one position for prolonged periods is difficult enough. Placing your pets under anesthesia allows us to complete the necessary treatment without complications.
Our staff may also need to take blood work or perform other tests to properly diagnose underlying diseases. Throughout the surgery, the vet or another trained professional will monitor your cat or dog’s vital signs. Meanwhile, your pet will rest easily, without stress or pain.
Why Is Tartar Control So Important?
Removing plaque below the gumline can prevent infections and swelling. Infections in your pet’s mouth can spread through the bloodstream, negatively impacting essential organs such as the kidneys and heart. Therefore, we advise you to do what you can to provide preventative care at home and bring your animal in for a checkup every year.
Advantages of Pet Dental Care
You want your cat or dog to have a healthy mouth to keep them happy. However, there are specific advantages to doing so and regular cleanings and checkups can even save your little buddy’s life.
Here are some of the top advantages of regular pet dental care:
- Preventing tooth loss. Infected gums cause loose teeth that move around and fall out. Catching gum disease early can prevent tooth loss.
- Improve bad breath. If your animal has stinky breath, you can choose the right dental products to produce fresher dog or kitty kisses.
- Stop mouth pain. Infected teeth and gums can cause severe pain that impacts your pet’s quality of life.
You can protect your dog’s overall health so a clean mouth can prevent the spread of bacteria from damaging your cat’s vital organs.
Contact Jimbabwe Acres, PCW to make an appointment today!
