Preventing Dental Disease with Cat & Dog Teeth Cleaning Services in Fogelsville, PA
It’s important to keep your pet’s teeth and gums clean for a couple of reasons. First, tartar can accumulate quickly without routine care, and this tartar can get under the gums and cause painful inflammation. Second, as the months go by, your pet could be at risk for oral infection, tooth loss, and potential infection of their heart, liver, and/or kidneys. Luckily, this doesn’t have to be in your pet’s future!
At Sunflower Veterinary Center, our team can counsel you in providing effective at-home dental care for your pet. We can also perform routine cat and dog teeth cleanings here in our hospital to improve your pet’s oral hygiene and stop dental disease in its tracks. An individualized approach is key because every pet will have different dental needs based on their species, breed, and other factors.
How Can I Tell If My Pet has Dental Disease?
For dogs and cats over age 3, dental disease is one of the most common health conditions despite also being one of the most preventable. It can also be hard to detect in its earlier stages, as many pets continue eating and playing as normal despite any oral discomfort they might experience.
When you bring your companion into Sunflower Veterinary Center for an oral exam, your veterinarian will look for and ask about the following signs:
- Bad breath
- Abnormal drooling (drooling all the time, and in larger quantities than usual)
- Red, swollen gums, which may be seen if you flip your pet’s lip
- Reluctance to chew or play with toys
- Pawing or rubbing at mouth
- Difficulty eating (dropping food, chewing on one side)
- Acting different (sleeping more, less sociable, not as playful)
How We Perform Cat and Dog Teeth Cleaning Procedures
The way we clean your pet’s teeth is not so different from how humans have their teeth cleaned at the dentist, but there are some key distinctions.
Home Dental Care is Vital to Dental Disease Prevention
The most important aspect of your pet’s dental care is maintaining their oral hygiene at home. Daily teeth brushing is ideal for slowing tartar buildup and keeping dental disease at bay. If your pet requires a different approach, we can discuss other dental options that will best suit their needs. Call (484) 273-4299 for specific recommendations! We’re happy to help.