Comprehensive Pet Dental Care for Cats & Dogs
Routine dental care is an important part of your cat or dog's oral health, however most pets don't actually receive the dental care that they need in order to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
At our veterinary clinic in Palmdale, we provide comprehensive dental care for your pet, from cleanings and polishing to dental x-rays and surgeries.
We also make a point of providing dental health education to pet owners about home dental care for their pets.
Dental Surgery in Palmdale
We know it can be overwhelming to find out that your pet requires dental surgery. However, we do our best to make sure that this process remains as stress-free as possible for both you and your pet.
We will do as much as we can in order to ensure that your pet's experience with us is easy, comfortable and successful. We will walk you through each step of the process in detail before the procedure, including both preparation and post-operative care you will have to provide your four-legged friend.
We offer jaw fracture repair surgeries, tooth extractions, and gum disease treatment for dogs and cats.
Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams
Just like your annual checkup with your own dentist, your pet's dental checkup should be schedule at least once per year. Pets who are more prone to oral health issues may need to come in for checkups more often that that though.
All Care Pet Clinic can assess, diagnose and treat dental health problems in cats and dogs.
- Symptoms
If you notice any of the following symptoms in your pet, it's time for a dental checkup.
- Bad breath
- Tartar buildup
- Loose and/or broken teeth
- Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Pain or swelling in or around the mouth
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- Discolored teeth
- Assessment
A thorough pre-anesthetic physical assessment will be completed for your pet before the dental exam.
We will take urine and blood analysis of your pet to make sure it's safe for them to undergo anesthesia. Additional diagnostics, such as chest radiographs may also be conducted.
After your pet is put under anesthesia, we will conduct their oral exam as well as tooth by tooth charting.
- Treatment
Next, the teeth are cleaned and polished (including under the gum line) and x-rays are taken. We then apply a fluoride treatment to each tooth.
The last step is to apply a dental sealant to your pet's teeth in order to prevent the buildup of plaque from attaching to their enamel. If we detect advanced periodontal disease in your pet, your veterinarian will develop a treatment plan and present it to you.
- Prevention
Ideally, a follow-up examination will be scheduled two weeks after the initial assessment and treatment appointment.
During this visit, we will discuss implementing teeth brushing at home. We can also recommend products that can help improve your pet's oral health.
FAQs About Pet Dental Care
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions from our patients about pet dental care.
- Why do pets need their teeth cleaned?
Our pets can develop periodontal disease or tooth decay as a consequence of poor oral health.
Just like in humans, when animals eat, plaque sticks to their teeth and can build up into tartar if not brushed away regularly.
This can cause infections in your pet's mouth, tooth decay, gum disease and missing or loose teeth among other oral health problems. Because of this, regular oral health care is key to preventing disease and pain in your pet's gums.
- How can I tell if my pet has oral hygiene issues?
Did you know behavior may be an indication of oral health problems? If your pet is experiencing dental problems, they drool excessively (and the drool may contain pus or blood), or you may notice them pawing at their mouth or teeth. They may also yawn excessively, grind their teeth, or stop grooming sufficiently.
Other signs of oral health problems include bad breath, swollen gums, and tooth discoloration. Some pets may even suffer from pain that keeps them from eating. Read more about symptoms to the left under Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams.
- What long-term problems can poor oral health potentially cause in my pet?
On top of causing problems like bad breathe and cavities, poor oral hygiene can also lead to diseases throughout your pet's body as infection travels from their mouth to their kidneys, heart, liver and more.
Cysts or tumors may develop. Your pet may also not feel well in general (if you've ever had a toothache, you know how it can affect your mood!). In addition, diseases related to oral health conditions can shorten the lifespan of your pet and cause significant pain.
This is why regular dental care is so essential to animals' physical health and wellbeing.
- What happens during a pet teeth cleaning appointment?
During your pet’s regular oral exam, the vet will examine his or her mouth and look for oral health conditions or any symptoms needing treatment.
The vet will clean tartar and other debris from your cat's or dog's teeth. If cavities, gingivitis, or other conditions need to be addressed, the vet will explain these to you and provide advice on which actions you should take.
In some instances, your pet will require surgery in order to treat their serious oral health issue. They will be provided with anesthesia before their dental procedure to make sure they are comfortable and won't experience any pain. Special care will be needed from you once your bring you pet home after surgery.
If you notice any of these symptoms, schedule a dental appointment with us.
- What should I do at home to keep my pet’s teeth clean between dental appointments?
At home, you should brush your pet's teeth on a regular basis and give them dental chew toys. These will help eliminate plaque.
Do not allow them to chew on things that will damage their teeth, such as bones, toys or objects that are too hard. Always contact your vet with any questions or concerns regarding your pet's oral health.
Veterinary Dentistry: Anesthesia & Your Pet's Oral Health
Cats and dogs do not understand what is going on during dental procedures, and will often react to dental procedures by struggling or biting.
Similar to the anesthesia provided to nervous or anxious patients by dentists, our Palmdale vets provide anesthesia to all of our patients before performing dental procedures. This puts less stress on the animals and allows us to x-ray their mouth as needed.