Keeping up with your pet’s dental hygiene is an essential aspect of caring for your pet. You must bring your pet to a veterinarian to have its teeth and gums checked at least once per year. At Arbor Ridge Pet Clinic, we have been providing residents of Fitchburg, WI with reliable pet dental care services for many years. Following are the answers to some questions our veterinarian frequently receives regarding pet dental care.
Why is Pet Dental Care Important?
Poor dental health care can affect the overall health of your pet. It is important to have their teeth and gums checked regularly to prevent bad breath and gum disease. If you notice that your pet’s breath is rather foul, it is time to seek dental care. Tooth loss may occur if your pet’s teeth become infected, which can result in their teeth falling out. This is another reason why pet dental care is imperative. Our veterinarian will also check for infection and gum disease, both of which can result in internal organ damage if left unaddressed. Bacteria in the plaque can enter the bloodstream and spread to your pet’s kidneys, liver, and heart.
What Types of Things Will a Veterinarian Be Able to Screen For?
Your dog will be given anesthesia to have his or her teeth cleaned. Our veterinarian vet will check for cysts or tumors in the mouth, broken jaw, cleft palate, infected teeth, periodontal disease, and even broken teeth and roots. Our veterinarian recommends a full mouth x-ray to check for dental disease and cancer at the time of the dental procedure. 75% of dental disease is often under the gum line where you can not see it.
What Are Some Common Pet Dental Problems?
Periodontal disease is the most common dental condition in both cats and dogs. Cavities are also common in pets as well as abscesses or infected teeth, and broken teeth, and damaged roots.
How Can a Veterinarian Help with Pet Dental Problems?
Based on the overall health of your pet, our vet will make recommendations to provide you with several options to consider. A dental cleaning will be conducted to remove plaque and tartar from your pet’s mouth. This will also allow our veterinarian to screen for periodontal disease. During a dental cleaning, your pet will be put under a general anesthetic so they do not move around too much. Make sure to brush your dog’s teeth at home regularly. This will prevent plaque and tartar from building up to dangerous levels. Even if you are regularly cleaning your pet’s teeth at home, you should still schedule regular professional dental cleanings.
Contact Our Veterinarian in Fitchburg, WI for Pet Dental Care
If you are looking for pet dental care in Fitchburg, WI, call Arbor Ridge Pet Clinic today at (608) 274-3880.