Inside the Clinic:
Annual dental cleanings (Dental Prophylaxis) are recommended on an annual basis to prevent tooth decay, gum diseases, and avoidable extractions. One of the most noticeable things that regular dental cleanings do is keep your pet’s mouth pain-free. Dogs and cats frequently show signs of oral pain when it becomes uncomfortable to eat, drink, or chew on toys, bones, or treats. Other common signs of dental issues include foul breath and visible tooth abscesses. If these signs are shown in your pet, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a dental consultation.
In addition to preventing oral discomfort, routine cleanings can prevent whole-body issues such as heart, liver, and kidney disease along with anorexia, and lethargy. A build-up of dental plaque and its associated bacteria can cross into the bloodstream leading to larger problems like these down the road if not managed early on.
Because we feel so strongly that pets should get a dental cleaning annually, we do offer a 10% discount if done within 18 months of their last cleaning at our clinic, so please don’t wait for dental plaque to build up and cause future problems when it can be easily prevented.
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At Home:
In between cleanings, a lot can be done on your part at home when it comes to maintaining good oral health in your pet. We highly recommend routine teeth brushing every night with your dog or cat to prevent dental tartar. If you’re new to brushing your pet’s teeth, you can always start with just your finger with a little bit of toothpaste and slowly work your way up to a toothbrush once you and your pet get accustomed.
In addition to regular teeth brushing, dental treats and food are great ways to supplement your dog’s oral health. Two products that we recommend and carry in our clinic for this are Oravet and Hill’s T/D dry food.
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Oravet: A daily dental chew that uses a manual scrubbing action to scrape tarter and uses delmopinol to block the development of plaque and tarter.
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T/D: has a larger fiber matrix that reduces crumbling and created a mechanical action that scrubs the teeth of plaque. Can be given as a complete diet or used as a supplement or training treats!
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