Dental Care for Cats & Dogs
Dental care is a very important aspect of the oral health and overall health of your pet.
We offer complete dental care, including cleaning and polishing teeth, dental x-rays, dental surgeries, and client education on home dental care.
Anesthesia (Sedation)
Whether your pet is visiting us for an exam and cleaning or undergoing dental surgery, anesthesia allows your veterinarian to perform the dental procedures with minimal stress and pain for the patient.
Rest assured, before going under anesthesia your pet will always be evaluated first to ensure it is safe for them.
Most pets can go home the same day of the procedure, although they might seem a little groggy for the rest of the day.
Annual Cleanings & Exams
Your pet should visit a veterinarian for a dental appointment at least once a year. Some dogs and cats are more prone to dental problems, and may need to visit more often.
At Southwind Animal Hospital, we use Oral ATP (Assessment, Treatment, Prevention), a protocol for managing your pet's dental needs and assessing symptoms.
- Symptoms
If you notice that your dog or cat is experiencing any of these following symptoms, a dental checkup is in order.
- Bad breath
- Loose or broken teeth
- Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- Discolored teeth
- Tartar buildup
- Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Pain or swelling in or around the mouth
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Assessment
First, a thorough preanesthetic physical exam will be performed on your pet.
Blood and urine analyses will be evaluated to ensure it is safe for your pet to undergo anesthesia. Additional diagnostics such as an ECG or chest radiographs will also be conducted, if needed.
Once your pet is safely under anesthesia, a full oral examination (tooth by tooth) and charting will be performed.
- Treatment
While your pet is still safely under anesthesia, we clean and polish the crowns of the teeth and under the gum line.
Each tooth is probed and radiographed. A fluoride treatment is then applied to each tooth.
Finally, a dental sealant is applied to retard the attachment of plaque. If advanced periodontal disease is found, a treatment plan will be developed and discussed with you at the end of the day.
- Prevention
A complimentary follow-up examination will be scheduled two weeks after the assessment and treatment appointment.
At this visit, we will discuss implementing teeth brushing at home as well as other products available that can help improve your pet's oral health.
Dental Surgery
At Southwind Animal Hospital, our experienced veterinarians perform dental surgeries for dogs and cats.
We strive to make your pet's surgical procedure as comfortable and stress free as possible for your pet, and for you, too.
We'll talk you through each step of the process, including preparation and post-operative care.
We offer the following dental surgeries for dogs and cats:
- Tooth extractions
- Treatment of severe periodontal (gum) disease