Dental prophy
What does a dental cleaning look like at YAH for your pet? A full oral exam including all teeth, lips, gums, & tongue is performed by the DVM once your pet is under anesthesia. Thorough cleaning of the teeth to remove visible tartar as well as subgingival disease is performed. Digital radiographs are used to evaluate subgingival tooth and bone health.
Overview of Periodontal Disease
Bad breath is what most of us recognize as poor oral hygiene but dental disease can lead to pain and organ damage. The irritated gums can cause bleeding and pain causing our pets to not want to eat. The bacteria secondary to poor oral health can affect your pets kidneys, liver, & heart.
At Home Care
At Youngsville Animal Hospital, we strongly believe in preventative dental care. This includes routine dental cleanings and at home dental care. The best practice to prevent dental disease is to brush your pet’s teeth a minimum of 3 times a week. Using a soft toothbrush and an Enzymatic, pet safe toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste or your finger as both are ineffective and your pet may bite you on accident.
Additional at home oral care products include:
- Dental diets – Purina DH or Hill’s T/D both have been shown to reduce gingivitis, plaque and calculus.
- Water additives
- Oravet Chews
If you notice any of the following signs at home, please call us to schedule a dental consultation today:
- Bad breath
- Blood tinged saliva in the food or water bowl
- Excessive drooling
- Pawing at the face or rubbing face on the carpet or furniture
- Decrease appetite
- Difficulty chewing
- Facial swelling
To learn more about your pets dental health & what products are recommended by the Veterinary Oral Health Council visit the following website:
Veterinary Oral Health Council Accepted Products for Cats and Dogs (vohc.org)