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A healthy pet is the result of many different components, one being proper dental hygiene. During your pet's physical your veterinarian will do an oral examination looking for signs of dental disease. One of the earliest signs of dental problems is the formation of dental tartar (calculus) which appears as yellow or brown deposits on your pet's teeth. Calculus is composed of bacteria, plaque, and food debris literally cemented onto the tooth. If this is not removed it continues to accumulate, eventually migrating down between the tooth, gum, and the bone that holds the tooth in place. This will cause red or inflamed gums, which can cause discomfort for your pet. Left untreated the tooth can loosen and become infected. This will cause your pet to experience pain, especially when chewing. In some cases the tooth will fall out due to the weakened attachment between tooth and bone.

Many clients have legitimate concerns about anesthesia safety. We agree and understand the importance of anesthesia safety. Anesthesia at Vale Park Animal Hospital is administered meticulously with monitoring support. An anesthesia plan is established with consideration of the pet's history, physical exam findings, medical tests, and the anticipated procedure to be performed. From these findings our surgeons select the best anesthesia drugs for your pet.

After your pet has been sedated, our dental technician will take some pre-dental pictures, and then perform a thorough cleaning, removing tartar from the teeth and cleaning under the gum line. Once all of the pieces of tartar have been removed and the surfaces of the teeth are smooth, the technician will polish each tooth. Next, the doctor will perform an oral exam, checking for any abnormalities or pockets. They will make a determination if radiographs and extractions are needed. X-Ray imaging allows the doctor to see what is going on under the gums. In the case of an extraction, it allows the doctor to make sure all of the roots have been removed completely.

After the dental procedure is complete, the dental technician will take another set of photographs, and then start the process of waking up your pet from anesthesia. Each pet is covered with warm towels and will stay with our technician until they are fully awake. Most patients are able to go home late in the afternoon or early evening on the same day.

Brushing your pet's teeth at home is the ideal way to keep tarter from accumulating. Daily wiping with gauze or brushing works best. We carry a variety of products such as toothpaste, gels, and oral rinses to help keep your pet's teeth clean and their breath fresh. We also carry Hill's Prescription Diet t/d for both canines and felines. This specialty diet is formulated to help remove plaque and tarter from the teeth of your pet.