Dental disease is one of the most common problems found in dogs and cats. Not only is it painful and uncomfortable, but also can cause problems throughout your pet’s entire body. Bacteria that are on the teeth can be absorbed into the bloodstream and travel through the body to all of the organ systems. This can lead to liver, kidney, and heart disease, which are very serious conditions. Also, if the teeth get too bad this can lead to abscessed teeth. If this happens sometimes many teeth need to be actually removed.
Dental cleanings involve removing the tarter (which contains bacteria) from the teeth, polishing the teeth, and evaluating the integrity of each tooth. Many owners are nervous about putting their pet under anesthesia especially with older pets. Unfortunately most pets with dental disease are older. Therefore, it is always recommended to perform pre-anesthetic bloodwork and an EKG to rule out any underlying conditions. There are several new anesthetics available now that have proven to be very safe for older pets. In most cases, the benefit of having the dental cleaning performed outweighs the risk of anesthesia. The staff at our hospital would encourage anyone who has concerns to discuss them with your veterinarian before having the dental procedure performed.
Dental disease is one of the most common problems found in dogs and cats. Not only is it painful and uncomfortable, but also can cause problems throughout your pet’s entire body. Bacteria that are on the teeth can be absorbed into the bloodstream and travel through the body to all of the organ systems. This can lead to liver, kidney, and heart disease, which are very serious conditions. Also, if the teeth get too bad this can lead to abscessed teeth. If this happens sometimes many teeth need to be actually removed.