Dental Care For Pets Is Important

1. Dental Care For Pets Is Important Any responsible pet owner understands that their pets’ wellbeing depends on more than providing shelter, good food and playtime. Pet owners know that medical care is equally important. This means having to know the best veterinary service in one’s region, and the services they offer to ensure pets remain healthy and happy right from the time they are kittens and puppies until they, sadly, reach the end of their lives. Therefore owners get to know the animal clinic and the veterinarians they trust best, and who they take their pets to for medical care. This includes regularly scheduled appointments for, say, vaccinations, but also medical care in emergencies. An example of medical care that owners should always be aware of, concerns dental care. It does not matter whether you live in Amsterdam, London or Greeley, CO. It is a good idea to let the veterinarian check the pet’s mouth and teeth for potential issues that could later develop, such as gum disease or worse. Early on he/she may suggest owners brush the pet’s teeth to help prevent the build-up of tartar, very much like it happens with humans. Or they may suggest specific diets that may help clean the animal’s mouth naturally. But unfortunately, preventative measures may not be enough, and there may come a time that dental intervention is needed. Owners should be able to tell by the pet’s behavior that they may be experiencing pain or discomfort when they chew and eat; some pets may stop eating altogether. This is when it becomes important to see the veterinarian for a dental exam. If it is not too late, extraction of teeth may be avoided. If the dental problem is assessed early enough, treatment and future prevention of similar problems may be put in place. This is true, especially, when tartar build-up on teeth reaches the gum line. It also depends on what the veterinarian believes to be the best approach. In most cases, especially if tartar and other build-up of impurities that lead to tooth decay, are present, a professional dental cleaning will be carried out under general anesthesia, after blood tests have confirmed that the pet has good heart, kidney and liver function. Under anesthesia the pet’s teeth can be x-rayed properly to ensure teeth can be saved and the animal’s dental profile be improved. This allows the veterinarian and their assistant to also clean the teeth and remove tartar and

2. plaque. The pet’s mouth will be checked for gum bleeding and cavities where bits of food may accumulate over time that will cause decay – and serious dental problems as a result. In serios cases saving affected teeth may not be possible, and therefore extraction may be the only solution. This may be done immediately, or at a later stage, depending on what the veterinarian and owner discuss before the examination. It may also happen that the veterinarian may contact an owner during the examination and discuss the way forward. This will depend on the relationship between pet owners and the veterinarians they take their pets to. If cleaning should suffice, then the veterinarian will perform tooth scaling to remove tartar and plaque, by hand as well as by using ultrasonic scalers if your veterinarian uses all the latest, most modern technology. After having removed tartar and plaque, the teeth will be polished to make sure that even the tiniest of scratches are removed so that future plaque build-up can be minimized. This is, of course, the procedure when extraction is not necessary. After this visit, it is important to regularly check your animal’s mouth for possible future plaque and tartar build-up, by using toothpaste recommended by your veterinarian (not human toothpaste), and by having the pet’s teeth checked during future visits to the veterinarian. Happy, healthy pets have good teeth and receive dental care when they need it. About Us At Powell Veterinary Service we offer all pet owners almost 30 years of dedicated, unrivalled service to ensure their pets remain healthy and happy. We offer great experience and are proud of the services we offer regarding all aspects of animal care. We perform surgeries, we spay and neuter, we offer boarding facilities and we provide puppies for different activities that appeal to our clients. At PVS we also offer a wellness service for pets to ensure any conditions are picked up early. We are Kersey, CO based and serve the surrounding areas. We are available by appointment, but also for emergency situations. Pets are our passion and we ensure that your animal receives excellent treatment from our practice. For more about us please visit https://powellvets.com/