Why Is Dental Care Important for Pets?
Regular dental care is crucial to your pet’s overall health and well-being. Like humans, pets can suffer from dental issues such as plaque buildup, tartar, and dental disease. However, unlike us, pets can’t care for their oral health by brushing their own teeth. Smaller animals, like guinea pigs and reptiles, often have their dental care ignored. However, dental diseases and other dental issues can cause severe health issues when left untreated. Proper pet dental care can:
- Prevent dental diseases like periodontitis
- Help your pet avoid pain and discomfort, which could lead to behavioral issues
- Maintain the health and function of their teeth
- Improve bad breath
- Prevent dental issues from turning into systemic health problems
Our Dental Services
At Paws and Claws Medical Center, we have a broad range of knowledge of various animals and their dental health needs. For example, we understand that rodents have unique requirements due to their always-growing teeth. We can explain to you why your particular animal needs dental services and what to expect from our procedures. We believe that providing quality pet dental care is key to helping your animal live a healthier and happier life by your side.
Our veterinarian will begin by doing an overall health check of your animal. This includes visually inspecting their oral cavity and seeing if there are any visible signs of dental disease or discomfort. This evaluation allows us to identify any existing dental issues and formulate a plan for further care. We’ll also make sure that your pet is healthy enough to undergo dental procedures under anesthesia, which could include performing bloodwork or other tests. Some of our dental services include:
Professional Cleanings: Just like humans going to the dentist for a professional cleaning, regular teeth cleaning is essential for your pet’s oral health routines. These typically involve removing plaque and tartar above and below the gum line, polishing your pet’s teeth, and examining their overall dental health.
X-rays: If we suspect any issues that aren’t visible to the naked eye, our team may take x-rays of your pet’s mouth. By taking x-rays, we can gain a comprehensive look at your pet’s teeth below the surface, which can help detect early signs of periodontal disease or other issues.
Extractions: These are among the most common veterinary procedures, typically due to tooth decay or periodontal disease. Your pet may also need an extraction for a fractured tooth or a baby tooth that has yet to fall out.
Endoscopic Dentistry
Our practice is proud to use advanced techniques to make the experience for your cat, dog, or exotic pet more comfortable. Endoscopic dentistry is an advanced dental method that uses very small tools and a camera to make it possible to perform complex dental procedures in a small space. It can be particularly useful for small animals such as bearded dragons, rodents, rabbits, and monkeys. Endoscopic dentistry procedures boast a variety of benefits for your pet, including:
- Smaller incisions
- Less pain
- Increased accuracy
- Shorter hospital stays
- Faster recovery
- Less scarring
FAQs About Pet Dental Care
Especially if you have an exotic animal, pet dental care can be confusing. Our team is dedicated to answering your questions and helping you feel confident in the care we provide your furry friend. Some of the frequently asked questions we receive are:
