Oral Health
At every appointment veterinarians check teeth and oral health. It’s a HUGE part of your pet’s overall health. More than 70% of cats over 3 years of age and >80% of dogs over the age of three already have dental disease!
There are A LOT of myths about veterinary dentistry that we hear on a daily basis so let’s chat about them.
- “but they are still eating, they must not be in pain”
False. Dogs and cats are incredibly stoic! Their instinct is to survive; the majority of animals continue to eat regardless of pain. It takes an incredible amount of dental infection and disease to stop them from eating.
- “ he/she is old though”
Age is not a disease! We completely empathize with the point of concern; older animals can be an increased anesthetic risk. However, with a thorough physical exam, pre-anesthetic bloodwork, or other additional diagnostics we can tailor the anesthesia to be as safe as possible for your pet.
- “ he/she gets a dental treat once a day”
Good! But…although a part of the dental health picture, dental treats and chews do not treat dental disease. The most important part of dental health is daily brushing and routine cleanings. A proper dental procedure involves general anesthesia and an entire team working on your pet. At The Pet Hospital we have two dedicated veterinary technicians and a veterinarian with your pet during the procedure. This is a surgical procedure where we assess and treat simultaneously!
Imagine if we didn’t brush our teeth or visit the dental hygienist!
Please ask us about oral health at your pets next appointment! It is one of the best preventative measures you can take to help your pet live a long healthy life.
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