Southern Hearts Veterinary Hospital provides comprehensive pet dentistry services. Dental care is an important part of your pet’s overall wellbeing as oral problems can affect the health of the entire body. Periodontal disease is very common in pets, and most will show symptoms of it by the time they are three years old. It’s caused by plaque buildup on the teeth, which provides a perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria. The infection caused by these germs can lead to decay and deterioration of the gums and roots, resulting in loss of teeth, swollen, painful, and bleeding gums, and eating problems due to pain and discomfort. If it is not treated early, it can spread and cause serious harm to internal organs including the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys. Regular exams and teeth cleaning is the key to effective pet dentistry.
Our hospital is fully equipped to provide your pet with the best possible dental care. When your cat or dog comes in for a dental exam and cleaning, your vet will assess their general physical health, run some routine lab tests, and take a full set of dental x-rays. Anesthesia will be administered to keep them calm during the procedure and a veterinary technician will closely monitor their vital signs throughout the process. The vet will perform a thorough examination of their teeth and gums looking for signs of decay and other problems and perform extractions where necessary. Then your pet’s teeth will be cleaned and scaled and polished to a shiny white. They’ll spend a short time in recovery and they can go home the same day.
Dental Radiography
Dental radiographs are an amazing tool to provide the best dental treatment plan for your dog and cat. Dental disease is THE MOST COMMON disease that dogs and cats will have during their lifetime. Treating this disease will improve the quality and quantity of their life!
Dental radiography allows us to see what is going on under the gumline so that we can create the best plan for each tooth. All dental patients will have a full set of dental x-rays included with their dental cleaning. This also includes post extraction radiographs, when warranted, to ensure the entire diseased tooth is removed.
Pet Dental Care At Home
There’s a lot you can do at home to promote good oral health in your pet. Get into the habit of inspecting their teeth regularly looking for signs of dental problems, including missing, broken, or darkened teeth. Be sure to also look for swollen or bleeding gums, exceptionally bad breath, and ulcers on their cheeks and tongue. Refusal to eat and unusual chewing motions can indicate pain in the mouth. With a little practice and patience, you can train your cat or dog to let you brush their teeth, with the same benefits you get from brushing your own. Ask your vet about special dental chews, treats, and foods you can purchase.
Southern Hearts Animal Hospital in Watkinsville, GA, is ready to provide your pet with all their health care needs, including pet dentistry. To schedule an appointment for an exam and teeth cleaning simply contact us online.
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