Dental Health for Your Pet

While the most common dental diseases found in humans are cavities, dogs and cats are most frequently troubled by tartar build-up. Tartar accumulation leads to irritation of the gums around the base of the teeth, which causes root exposure over time.

The two major factors in tartar build-up are individual mouth chemistry and diet. Pets who eat a lot of wet food are most susceptible to increased tartar accumulation. Small-breed dogs and cats in particular (especially cats with leukemia & FIV) are also near the top of the list. 

  Proper dental hygiene can help your pet to live a long, healthy life. A clean, well maintained mouth prevents your pet from the possibility of experiencing oral pain and losing teeth, which can affect their overall wellbeing.

  Prices for dental cleanings can vary depending on a number of factors such as the size of the animal and how many teeth were removed out of necessity. For instance, a larger pet will require a higher amount of anesthetic as well as pain medications. Some pets, whose oral health isn’t in the best shape, may also need to have some teeth removed.

If you would like a better idea of how much your pet’s individual dental will cost, we can create an estimate for you after a consultation has been done! 

  Here at Westside Veterinary Clinic, we use modern anesthetics that are deemed safe even for older pets. Once your pet is in a state where we can safely and easily perform the cleaning procure, our veterinarians follow a complete 4-step process with the assistance of technicians.

1. SCALING: Removal of the tartar below the gum line.

2. POLISHING: Smoothing the surface to make teeth more resistant to build-up.

3. FLUSHING: Removing dislodged tartar and bacteria from the mouth.

4. FLUORIDE COATING: Decreases sensitivity, strengthens enamel, slows rate of build-up. 

Less than a full work day! Typically, we will have you drop your pet off in the morning, between 8:00 – 9:30am, and the procedure itself takes around 2 hours. We then give your pet a few hours to recover from anesthesia while being closely monitored, and then they can go home anywhere between 4:30- 5:30PM.

Seeking regular veterinary care and having your pet’s teeth cleaned when necessary are the most important steps for ultimate oral maintenance. After your pets teeth have been cleaned, home brushing, dental chews such as Oravet chews and an enzymatic water additive such as Vetradent water additive (all sold at Westside) are great choices for maintaining dental health in between cleanings.