Dental hygiene is often overlooked in pets.  However, proper dental hygiene is an important part of your pet’s overall health, and if it is neglected it can cause a variety of health issues, such as:

• Periodontal disease (which could potentially cause damage to the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain)
• Tooth loss or breakage
• Abscesses or infected teeth

Signs of poor dental hygiene may include bad breath, stained teeth, loose teeth, bleeding from the mouth, excessive drooling, mouth pain, and/or reduced appetite.  It is important to have your pet checked annually to keep tabs on their oral health. More information is linked below:

https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/petcare/pet-dental-care

At the Veterinary Wellness Center, we will perform an oral examination of your pet each time they come in for a visit.  If your pet is exhibiting any of the symptoms above, you should schedule an appointment to come see us.  If we notice any minor oral health issues (such as plaque and tartar build up) we will suggest a tooth cleaning. We will anesthetize your pet during the cleaning so that we can do a thorough job without causing them any distress.  If the dental issues are more severe, we are also able to perform any oral surgery that may be necessary (such as tooth extractions).

It is easy to prevent these issues simply by caring for your pet’s oral hygiene at home.  We recommend that you brush your pet’s teeth at least several times a week - if you can, brushing their teeth daily is even better!  If your pet will not allow you to brush their teeth, we suggest that you buy them some dental cleaning toys or chews.