Cats and dogs, like humans, require regular dental care to remove the build-up of plaque and tartar that leads to oral diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis. These diseases, in their advanced stages, spread into other parts of the body, and develop into serious health risks including heart, lung, liver and kidney problems. Rocky Creek Veterinary Hospital recommends a dental care routine of annual professional cleanings and regular at home treatment.

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To administer full cleanings, we require that your pet be put under anesthesia. While this can sometimes be a point of concern for our clients, you can be assured that we practice the same safe monitoring techniques for dental procedures that we use in all of our surgeries. We conduct blood tests first to make sure that your dog or cat is safe to receive anesthesia, and also to determine the specific amount that is necessary for the procedure. Your pet’s vital signs are tracked by a technician using a state-of-the-art digital monitoring device throughout the course of the exam for safety.

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The full cleaning process includes an examination of each of your pet’s individual teeth, tongue, cheeks, and gums. We check for mobility, fractures, and malocclusion, and remove plaque and tartar using hand instruments and power-assisted ultra-sonic scaling tools.

To provide the greatest benefit to your dog or cat, we suggest that you continue treatment at home. Ask our veterinarians about dental products such as coated treats, wipes, and sealants to protect your pet’s teeth between visits.

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Signs of oral and dental diseases in dogs and cats:

• Loss of appetite or loss of weight

• Bad breath

• Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar

• Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area

• Drooling or dropping food from the mouth.

• Bleeding from the mouth