Our veterinarians recommend routine dental care for all pets. Proper dental care will increase your pet’s quality of life.
Have you noticed a foul odor coming from your pet’s mouth or a brown accumulation on the teeth? It’s not uncommon. Nearly 85% of dogs and cats suffer from some degree of dental disease.
Dental disease can cause tooth loss, pain during chewing, and lead to more serious disease. At your pet’s annual exam the doctor will check the teeth and tell you if it is time to schedule a cleaning. To schedule a dental cleaning for your pet, contact us.
Schedule a dental service: Dental appointments are scheduled Monday through Friday. If your pet is over the age of seven, the doctor will recommend performing blood work within three months of your pet undergoing anesthesia. All blood work must be drawn and reviewed prior to scheduling your pet’s appointment. We must see your pet in our office prior to a dental cleaning. Call us to schedule.
Deposit: We require a $100 deposit to schedule a sedated procedure. Your deposit will be applied the day of your pet’s procedure or if you cancel or reschedule with at least 48 hours’ notice. If less than 48 hours’ notice is given, your deposit is non-refundable.
What to expect on the day of a dental cleaning
Before you come: All dental procedures are performed under general anesthesia. Because anesthesia may cause nausea, all pets must be fasted for at least 12 hours prior to drop-off. If your pet is over the age of seven, the doctor will recommend performing blood work within three months of your pet undergoing anesthesia. All blood work must be drawn and reviewed prior to scheduling your pet’s appointment.
Drop-off and pickup: We ask that owners drop-off their pets for dental (or surgical) procedures at between 7:30 and 8 AM. You will be given an ETA for pick-up by your doctor. For our patients’ safety, we place an I.V. Catheter during all sedated procedures, so be aware that your pet will go home with a small shaved spot on his or her leg. We also perform a complimentary nail trim with all anesthetized procedures (unless requested otherwise).
The veterinarian that will be seeing your pet for the procedure will often be performing multiple procedures on a given day. Depending on the nature of the other procedures scheduled, your pet may not be the first to go. It is still important that your pet be dropped off between 7:30 – 8 AM for intake, premedication, and IV catheter installation. While your pet is waiting for their procedure, they will be provided with bedding (unless otherwise requested) to make them more comfortable. Your pet will be attended to by our technicians and dogs will be given opportunities to stretch their legs and go to the bathroom. Feline patients will be provided with a litter box.
When it is time for your pet’s procedure, you will be updated via text. If your pet’s dental x-rays reveal tooth decay that warrants tooth extraction, the doctor will give you a call with an updated plan and estimate for the procedure. The doctor will also call you with an update after the procedure is completed and give you a pick-up time. If your pet has behavioral or medical reasons they need to be the first procedure in the schedule, please discuss this with the doctor or a receptionist when scheduling and we will do our best to accommodate their needs.
The procedure: After being dropped-off for a dental cleaning, a doctor physically examines your pet to ensure s/he is safe to undergo anesthesia. Throughout the entire procedure a technician monitors and records your pet’s vital signs. After your pet is fully anesthetized, the doctor evaluates the entire oral cavity including: teeth, gums, tongue and throat. Then, radiographic images (X-Rays) may be taken of your pet’s oral cavity to further assess the teeth for fractures or periodontal disease. Dental radiographs may also reveal subgingival (under the gums) foreign objects, abscess, bone loss, cysts and tumors, and help the doctor assess if a tooth should be extracted or saved.
As mentioned above, If the x-ray reveals tooth decay that warrants extraction, the doctor will give you a call with an updated plan and procedure estimate. If a tooth is extracted, your pet will likely need to eat soft food for a few days, and may go home with pain medication and/or a cone. A technician will go over after-care instructions at pickup. In some cases, our doctors may refer your pet to a dental specialist. We will also call the next day to check on your pet following the procedure to answer any questions or concerns.