Many people know that keeping your teeth clean and your gums healthy is an important part of health care. But did you know that dental care is just as important for your pet? If not cared for properly, your furry friend’s mouth will become a home to plaque, tartar and bacteria, and if left too long, can invite other, much more serious medical problems to their entire body. Periodontal disease is so serious, it can even shorten your pet’s lifetime. Even with this, pet dental care is often overlooked as a component of pet care.Alliance Animal Hospital hopes to encourage better dental care for all of our patients. We use the most modern dental care equipment available. This includes ultrasonic scalers, dental x-ray, and other tools needed to perform routine dental procedures such as dental exams, cleanings, fluoride treatments, and more. If your pet is suffering from a more serious dental problem, such as an abscess, gingivitis, or dental disease, we are ready to offer care and treatment options for those cases as well, even oral surgery if necessary.
Some of the signs that your pet may be experiencing a problem with his or her teeth or gums include, but are not limited to:
- Excessive drooling
- Bad breath
- Pawing at the mouth
- Yellow, broken or missing teeth
- Swollen or bleeding gums
- Difficulty chewing
- Obvious pain when touched near the mouth area
- Swelling of the cheek below the eye
If you notice your pet exhibiting any of these signs or symptoms, please call right away and schedule an appointment for a dental exam. The sooner a problem is identified, the sooner it can be treated and brought under control.
We are available to address all your pet’s dental needs, from prophylactic dental cleaning to advanced treatment options. Our doctors are all available for routine procedures.
One of the most frequently questioned issues is anesthesia. We take many precautions to minimize your pet’s risk with extensive monitoring and support. Prior to anesthesia, each patient will have pre-anesthetic blood testing to identify any underlying problems that may increase anesthetic risk. During the procedure, all patients:
- Receive IV fluids
- Are monitored for blood pressure, temperature, EKG, pulse oximetry, and end tidal carbon dioxide
- Are kept at normal body temperature with warm air blankets
Each patient has one technician tasked solely with monitoring and hands-on care, while the doctor and a second technician focus on the pet’s dental issues.
Dental X-rays are recommended to identify any problems with the tooth below the gum line. Possible issues include a dental abscess from periodontal or root canal disease, fractured tooth roots, or impacted teeth.
It is NEVER our intention to extract teeth. Our goal is to treat and save teeth, not pull them! There are many treatments available to maintain your pet’s dentition without extractions. When removal is the only option, we are equipped to treat the most involved cases.
Technicians will review proper dental hygiene with you at each visit. Alliance Animal Hospital can provide you with all of your pet’s dental needs – from treats, tooth brush options and tooth paste.