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BONUS Dental Discount Month!

Say CHEESE, because this news is so exciting, it will have your pet companion smiling too! Here at Crosspoint Veterinary Hospital, we are offering a BONUS dental cleaning discount for the month of September! During this time, our clinic will offer 10% off the cost of your pets dental.

For dental health care for your pet, their teeth should be checked at least once a year, generally done during their yearly annual exam with your veterinarian. Having your dog or cat’s teeth checked can detect early signs of dental problems. Always remember to have your pets teeth checked sooner if you observe any of the following problems:

• • Bad breath
• • Teeth that are discolored or covered in tarter
• • Broken or loose teeth
• • Abnormal chewing
• • Bleeding from the mouth
• • Reduced appetite or refusal to eat

Any changes in your pet’s behavior, such as irritability should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. And remember to always be cautious when evaluating your pet’s mouth, because if it is painful to them, it may cause them to bite.

So we get cavities, right? Well, although cavities are less common in pets than people, they can have as many of the same dental problems as we do!

• • Abscesses and infected teeth
• • Periodontal disease
• • Misalignment of the teeth and jaw
• • Broken teeth and roots
• • Cysts and tumors in the mouth

With the above listed, periodontal disease is the most commonly seen dental condition in dogs and cats. By as early as three years old, your pet could start showing early evidence, and as the years go on, could potentially worse if effective measures are not taken. Periodontal disease can cause severe problems and pain for your pet, but not only does it affect your pets mouth, other health problems found in association with the disease is liver, kidney and heart changes.

Open wide and say ahh!

As humans, we know what procedures are being done to help keep yourself and mouth healthy. Unfortunately, your pet doesn’t understand the benefit of the dental procedure, so he or she reacts by moving, trying to escape, and biting. With that being said, anesthesia makes it possible to perform the dental procedure with less pain for your pet. While under anesthesia we are able to get a better cleaning and radiographs if necessary, and without sedation this is very unlikely. Meanwhile, it also allows for a more thorough exam with dental probing to find underlying issues.

Although anesthesia always has its risks, it is safer now than ever before. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is an additional option to check liver and kidney levels, which are affected, for the approval for anesthesia. During the procedure, your pet is on a monitor being observed by a technician with vitals being read throughout the anesthetic time. A Dental chart is also used to record any masses, missing teeth, and extractions and are filed into their chart for future reference. Most pets go home the same day of the dental cleaning, although they may seem a little groggy for the remainder of the day.

So, you get your pets teeth cleaned up and breath freshened, so what’s next? Frequent removal of plaque and tarter from their teeth is very important. Regularly brushing your pet’s teeth is the single most effective way to keep your pets teeth healthy during dental cleanings. Most dogs do well with brushing, but cats can be a bit more resistant.

There are many over-the-counter products that claim they improve dental health, but not all of them are effective. One product that we recommend after a dental cleaning here at Crosspoint is Oravet® Dental Hygiene Chews. Oravet® can be used as part of an overall dental health regimen that includes regular veterinary visits and at-home care. Each chew is sized based on the body weight on your canine friend, and is recommended to be given once a day. Oravet® helps to prevent bacterial attachment, and reduces plaque and calculus, which helps aid in longing the period between dental cleanings.

Talk to your veterinarian about any dental products, treats, or dental specific diets that you are considering for your pet, or for any recommendations!