Just like humans, our four-legged fur friends require preventative dental care, and our veterinarians will make sure they get it. At Acacia Pet Clinic, we treat patients and their beloved pets just like our own family.
We know how important it is to protect your pet’s oral health and treat dental problems as they occur. We offer dental care for dogs and cats, including dental exams, dental cleanings, injury treatment, and dental disease care.
Why is pet dental care so important?
Your pets depend on their pearly whites to eat, fetch, play, groom, and more. Their dental health is directly related to their quality of life, so it’s important for owners to stay on top of routine dental care. Since pets cannot communicate discomfort or pain as easily as humans can, it’s important to have our professionals routinely take a look at their teeth.
Luckily, good oral hygiene prevents most painful and uncomfortable dental problems, which can range from tooth loss to more serious dental diseases and injuries. By keeping your pet’s teeth clean and bringing them in for regular exams, they can avoid painful and inconvenient consequences later in life.
Dental health is the gateway to your pet’s overall health. Bad breath, cracked teeth, inflamed gums, and other signs of poor dental health are red flags for diseases, injuries, and infections that get worse without treatment.
Dental diseases can lead to life-threatening infections and illnesses, including damage in the liver and heart, so it’s always a good idea to invest in preventative dental care before something serious arises and rapidly gets worse.
What are the signs and symptoms of dental problems?
All pets need regular dental exams, but if your pet is already showing signs of a possible dental problem, it’s very important to come in as soon as possible. Here are some of the most common pet dental problems that require attention from our vet:
- Bad breath
- Broken teeth
- Loose teeth
- Refusal to eat
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Swelling around the mouth
- Abnormal chewing
- Dropping food while eating
- Abnormal drooling
- Discolored teeth
- Teeth coated in tartar
- Extra teeth
If your pet shows any of these symptoms, call today to make an appointment with our veterinarian. Some pets may even become irritable when they have dental problems. Any changes in your pet’s behavior should prompt a visit to your veterinarian. Always be careful when evaluating your pet’s mouth, because an animal in pain may feel the need to bite.
We will take a close look inside your pet’s mouth and may follow up with X-rays and further diagnostics before scheduling a more thorough dental exam and cleaning. During this exam, your pet will be sedated to reduce stress, pain, and injury risks, as we will examine the mouth and fully clean, scale, and polish each tooth.
What Dental Problems Can our Veterinarian Detect?
Pets face many of the same dental problems that affect humans. Although cavities are rare, there are several common pet dental problems and diagnoses that we see in our pet clinic:
- Periodontal disease
- Broken teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Broken teeth roots
- Abscesses
- Cysts
- Tumors
- Broken jaws
How we can help
Our dedicated veterinarian makes it easier than ever to protect your pet’s dental health. In addition to ultrasonic scaling and cleaning under sedation, we perform tooth extractions and other oral surgeries to treat dental problems. We will also inform you on how to brush your pet’s teeth, and recommend toys and foods that are healthy for their mouths.
For more information on pet dental care or to schedule an appointment, please don’t hesitate to contact us today at (408) 264-6354!