Pet Dental Health Month is February: book your dental consult early
February is Pet Dental Health Month, and our cleaning schedule fills by January. A consult now gets you a plan and a date.
Most dogs and cats over three have some kind of dental disease, and it’s one of the most common things we find at a checkup. Left alone, it can mean pain, loose teeth and infection that spreads beyond the mouth.
Signs worth a look
Bad breath (more than regular dog breath), tartar, red or bleeding gums, dropping food, chewing on one side, or pawing at the mouth. Many pets show nothing at all, which is why we check teeth at every exam.
What a cleaning involves
A proper dental cleaning is done under anesthesia, with a pre-anesthetic checkup, bloodwork, an IV catheter, monitoring and X-rays, because most of the problem is below the gumline where you can’t see it. We don’t offer “anesthesia-free” cleanings, because they only clean what’s visible and can give a false sense that all is well.
Why consult first
A $45 dental consult with a vet gets you an honest look at the teeth, whether a cleaning is worth planning, and a written estimate. A $25 deposit holds your time and comes off the bill.
What you can do at home
Brushing a few times a week with a pet toothpaste (never human toothpaste) makes a real difference. Tess will show you how at any visit.