Comprehensive Pet Dental Care for Cats & Dogs
It's important for the oral and overall health of cats and dogs, that they receive routine dental care, however, most pets don't get the oral hygiene care they require to keep their teeth and gums healthy.
At our veterinary hospital in Toledo, we offer comprehensive pet dental care services, including dental exams, teeth cleanings and polishing, dental X-rays, and surgeries.
We also provide pet owners with dental health education about providing their pets with dental care at home.
Pet Dental Surgery in Toledo
We realize how worrying it can be to find out your pet requires vet dental surgery. We do our best to make this process as stress-free as possible, for you and for your pet.
For cats and dogs, we offer tooth extractions, jaw fracture repair surgeries, and gum disease treatment.
Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams
similar to your yearly checkup at the dentist, your cat or dog should come in at least once a year for a dental examination. Pets that are at a higher risk of developing dental problems than others might have to see us more often.
Shoreland Animal Hospital can assess, diagnose and treat dental health problems in cats and dogs.
- Symptoms
If you see your pet displaying any of the symptoms below, you should bring them in for a dental checkup.
- Bad breath
- Discolored teeth
- Tartar buildup
- Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Loose and/or broken teeth
- Pain or swelling in or around the mouth
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- Assessment
We will conduct a comprehensive pre-anesthetic physical assessment for your pet before their dental exam.
We will take blood and urine analyses to make sure it's safe for your cat or dog to undergo anesthesia. Additional diagnostics, including chest radiographs, or an ECG might also be implemented.
Once your pet is under anesthesia, we will conduct a complete oral examination (tooth by tooth) and charting.
- Treatment
Then, we will clean and polish your pet's teeth (including under the gum line) and take X-rays. We then apply a fluoride treatment to each tooth.
The last step is to apply a dental sealant to prevent plaque from attaching to the enamel. If we find advanced periodontal disease, your veterinarian will develop a treatment plan and explain it to you.
- Prevention
Preferably, you should schedule a follow-up examination for two weeks after the initial assessment and treatment appointment.
At this visit, we will talk about implementing teeth brushing at home. We can also recommend products that can help improve your pet's oral health.
FAQs About Pet Dental Care
Below we have answered some of the most frequently asked questions from our clients about pet dental care for cats & dogs.
- Why do pets need their teeth cleaned?
Cats and dogs can get periodontal disease or tooth decay as a result of poor oral health.
Similar to people, when animals eat, plaque sticks to their teeth and can build up into tartar if not brushed away regularly.
This could cause infections in the mouth, periodontal disease, tooth decay, and even loose or missing teeth. This is why regular pet dental care is important for preventing pain or disease in the gums.
- How can I tell if my pet has oral hygiene issues?
Did you know behavior could be a sign of oral health issues? If your cat or dog is suffering from 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 symptoms of oral health problems are 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?
Other than causing issues such as cavities, bad breath, and severe periodontal disease, oral health problems and conditions can result in disease in the liver, kidney, heart, and other areas throughout your pet's body.
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 makes regular pet dental care very important for pets' physical health and wellbeing.
- What happens during my pet's teeth cleaning appointment?
As part of your animal’s regular oral exam, the vet will assess their mouth and check for oral health conditions or any symptoms that require 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.
Occasionally, surgery will be required to treat serious conditions. Your pet will be given anesthesia before their dental procedure to ensure they are comfortable and do not experience any pain. But, after the surgery special care will be needed.
If you see 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.
Don't let them chew on things that could damage their teeth, such as toys, bones, or objects that are too hard. Always call your vet if you have any questions or concerns about your pet's oral health.
- Discolored teeth
- Tartar buildup
- Pain or swelling in or around the mouth
- Loose and/or broken teeth
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Bad breath
- Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
Veterinary Dentistry: Anesthesia & Your Pet's Oral Health
When cats and dogs are undergoing dental procedures they don't understand what is going on, and can often respond to them by biting or struggling.
Similar to the anesthesia dentists give nervous or anxious human patients, our Toledo vets provide anesthesia to all of our patients before performing dental procedures. This puts less stress on the animals and lets us X-ray their mouth as required.