pet dental care
Dental care is an important part of your pet’s wellness care, and professional dental treatments are among the most common procedures we perform for both cats and dogs.
Pet dental Care
At Central Valley Animal Hospital, our veterinarians will perform a thorough dental examination during your pet’s annual wellness exam.
PROFESSIONAL PREVENTATIVE DENTAL CARE FOR YOUR PET
Our professional dental care includes intra-oral radiographs, complete ultrasonic scaling, root planing, and polishing. We place your pet under anesthesia and remove plaque and tartar using hand instruments and power scaling equipment (just like your dentist does!). We give your pet’s teeth a thorough ultrasonic cleaning and polishing. We will perform a comprehensive oral exam, check each tooth for movement, gingival pockets, fractures, malocclusion, and periodontal disease, and perform dental X-rays.
AT-HOME PET DENTAL CARE
We also recommend regular home care to prevent plaque buildup on your pet’s teeth. Nowadays, several products are available to help keep plaque to a minimum. Plaque, an accumulation of bacteria, can progress to periodontitis, characterized by pockets of chronic infection, oral pain, and severe infections. Left untreated, it will eventually loosen and destroy the teeth, possibly leading to bone loss. The infection under the gum line can also spread to the liver, kidneys, and heart.
Common signs of dental disease in pets
- Bad breath
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Loose teeth
- Teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
- Drooling or dropping food from the mouth
- Loss of appetite or weight loss
- Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area
If your dog or cat exhibits any signs of dental disease, please call us at your earliest convenience to arrange a dental exam for your pet.