No different than human teeth, your pet’s teeth require care. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has developed the AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. At Glenmoore Veterinary Hospital, we follow these guidelines to insure the best dental health for your four-legged family members. Dental disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets.
Common signs of dental disease include:
- Yellow or brown buildup (tartar) on the teeth
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Bad breath
- Excessive drooling
- Changes in eating or chewing habits
- Pawing at the face, facial swelling
- Loose teeth
- Depression
We offer digital dental radiographs in an effort to look for dental disease, or tooth root damage. If dental disease is not caught and treated quickly enough, it can result in the need for multiple tooth extractions, tooth abscesses, or other complications. Dental disease may also affect other organs in the body. There are concerns that bacteria in the mouth could get into the bloodstream and may cause serious infections in the kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart. A physical exam combined with appropriate laboratory work can determine if infection in the mouth has spread.
We know brushing your pets teeth is not always a possibility, which makes routine dental exams that much more important. One of our doctors can discuss the many options available for your pet.