Pet Dental Health Month - February 2012
How is your pet's breath?
Here’s a shocking statistic: An astounding 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease by age 3, according to the American Veterinary Dental Society. February is National Pet Dental Health Month and during this month, we are offering $20 off all dental cleaning procedures.
Can you imagine how your teeth would look and/or feel if you didn't brush your teeth or have preventive dental care? Pet dental care is often overlooked but can seriously affect a pet's quality of life - from tooth loss to systemic disease and even organ damage or failure. That’s why it’s important to make sure your pet gets regular dental checkups and that you pay attention to his or her dental care at home, too. This is a picture of a dog's mouth with moderate periodontal disease:
During a dental cleaning or prophylaxis, plaque and tartar are removed above and below the pet's gum line. A Doctor can evaluate the overall health of the mouth including tongue, gums, lips, and teeth. As seen below, dental x-rays (if needed) are a very important tool for assessing the teeth below the gum line.
Pain control is always a priority for your pet during the procedure. To ensure the comfort and safety for your pet, the dental cleaning procedure is performed under general anesthesia. If extractions are needed, we utilize regional nerve blocks and systemic pain control medications to minimize pain and discomfort.
At Best Friends Animal Hospital, we are equipped with state-of-the-art dental equipment, including digital dental x-rays, which are an invaluable tool in pet dentistry. You can be sure our Doctors and team will take the very best care of your furry companion! We will also discuss at-home dental care including brushing your pet's teeth, oral rinses, and oral chews. Below is an image of the same dog's mouth (as above) after his dental cleaning/polishing:
During February, we celebrate Pet Dental Health Month with a $20 discount on all dental cleanings! Call today 406-255-0500 to schedule! Also check out these links: AAHA's article on how to brush your pet's teeth and Cornell's video demonstrating brushing your cat's teeth.
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