The importance of routine dental care cannot be stressed enough. Proper dental care actually helps prevent many health problems as your pet ages. Our wellness exams always include a thorough examination of the mouth.
Preventive care
When early tartar buildup is diagnosed, we can offer some preventive care. This might include one or more of the following:
• A dental diet designed to prevent tartar buildup
• A liquid that can be added to drinking water and has an enzymatic action to slow down tartar buildup
• Toothbrush and toothpaste kits
• Other products that help keep the teeth clean
Once tartar has noticeably accumulated on the surface of the teeth, the next step is a professional dental cleaning. Even the most obedient pets won’t lie back and keep their mouths open, so this procedure needs to be done under general anesthesia. This means your pet will get to spend the day with us and go home late that afternoon with sweet-smelling breath and clean, healthy teeth and gums.
Delaying or abstaining from dental cleanings can have drastic implications on your pet’s overall health. As tartar builds up, abscesses may form along the gum line causing infection. Left unattended, the infection can enter the blood stream, leading to health problems and potentially prove fatal.