Pet dental care is an important part of your dog or cat annual wellness examination. Poor dental hygiene can cause issues with teeth and gums, which can easily contribute to more serious problems throughout your pet’s body. At Ellerslie Pet Hospital & Accessories, we advise having your pet undergo a dental exam once a year, as well as regular teeth brushing at home at least once a week.
Things Our Pet Dentist Will Look For
During your pet’s annual dental exam, our pet dentist won’t just be looking for cavities and worn molars. Your pet’s mouth health is closely tied to the health of its internal organs. In fact, by the time most pets are three years old, they already show some signs of periodontal issues. It begins with plaque, which then hardens into yellow tartar. This damaging tartar can set up below the gum line, creating pockets that allow bacterial to grow. This means infection, and not just in the jawline and teeth. Some bacterial can move throughout your pet’s blood system, infecting the heart, lungs, and other organs.
The first thing our veterinarian will look for is signs of tartar building up on your pet’s teeth. Some of the other signs she’ll look for are:
- Infected teeth
- Misaligned teeth and jaws
- Broken teeth and roots
- Infections in the soft tissue such as tongue and cheeks
- Gum infection
- Tumors or cysts in the mouth
Common Pet Dental Problems
One of the most common problems our team finds with most pets is a periodontal disease. This buildup of tartar requires thorough teeth cleaning, which we will do under anesthetic for your pet’s comfort and safety. Some of the other common problems we see are broken or loose teeth, swollen tongue, excessively bad breath, and abscessed teeth.
How We Can Help
After doing a dental examination, the most important thing a pet dentist can do is a comprehensive dental cleaning on your pet’s mouth. Under general anesthetic, we remove the hardened tartar on the surface of the teeth and under the gum line. Based on what the veterinarian sees on your pet’s dental x-rays, she may repair or remove affected teeth, or treat problem jawbones if they’ve been infected.
After getting a complete cleaning, it’s important for you to help keep your pet’s teeth clean for the next year before its next dental exam. That means brushing your pet’s teeth, at least once a week. Our veterinarian will teach you how to do this, along with recommending the right kind of toothbrush and toothpaste for your particular pet.
Looking for a Veterinarian in Edmonton?
Keeping up with dental health is just one of the responsibilities of a good pet owner, and our caring, experienced team is ready to help. If your pet is overdue for a dental exam, or if you’ve got any other questions about your dog’s or cat’s health, call our office in South Edmonton at (780) 702-7738 today.