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Keep you pet's 'smile' healthy and bright
Dental disease is painful and dangerous
Dentistry for your pet
An ounce of prevention...
Plaque is just the beginning
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- Just like you, your pet can get a toothache ... and worse.
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- Keep your pet’s ‘smile’ healthy and bright
Did you know dogs and cats lose baby teeth just like people do? Puppies have 28 ‘baby’ teeth they lose at about 4 months when their 42 permanent teeth come in. Kittens have 26 ‘baby’ teeth. They lose them at 3 to 4 months when their 30 permanent teeth emerge.
It’s just as important to take care of your pet’s teeth as your own. That means regular check-ups. At Conejo Valley Veterinary Hospital we like to do a visual check each time we see our pet patients. But if you have a healthy dog or cat, we may not see them for long periods. That’s why we recommend a dental consultation once every year for every pet.
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- Dental disease is painful and dangerous
As we all know, a sore tooth is a misery. Unfortunately, your pet can’t tell you it has a tooth ache. If you notice any of these signs in your pet, please come see us immediately:
• Bad breath
• Decreased appetite
• Weight loss
• Yellow teeth
• Red or swollen gums
• Missing teeth
• Nasal discharge
• Tearing or swelling below one eye
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- Dentistry for your pet
Once a year, bring your pet in for a dental consultation. If we feel your pet needs it, we’ll recommend a thorough exam and cleaning. The procedure requires anesthesia. We’ll start with blood work and possibly x-rays. If necessary we’ll postpone the dental procedure.
Our dental suite has many of the same instruments your own dentist uses. We have ultrasonic scalers and specialized instruments to remove dental plaque and calculus. We will extract any fractured or damaged teeth.
To limit the formation of new plaque and fortify the teeth, we polish, use fluoride treatments and do antiseptic rinsing. Antibiotic treatment may be recommended to heal gums and keep infection from harming internal organs.
An ounce of prevention . . .
What you do can make all the difference for your pet.
FOOD: You can slow down plaque formation by feeding firm, kibbled, premium pet foods.
CHEW TOYS: Ask your pet store for toys designed to prevent plaque and calculus build up.
BRUSHING TEETH: Brushing you pet’s teeth is as important in preventing dental disease as brushing your own teeth. Toothbrushes, toothpastes, and mouth rinses are available in great variety. The younger you start your pet’s brushing program, the easier it is.
CLEANINGS AND EXAMS: Consult with us at least once a year. How often your pet needs cleanings depends on its individual needs.
Our goal is a big, bright, beautiful smile.
- Plaque is just the beginning
Dental plaque is a mix of bacteria, saliva and cellular debris. The plaque accumulates on the enamel of the teeth. As food particles mix with plaque it becomes a brown, thick, hard calcified material – calculus.
By the time a pet is 2 or 3 years old, you can begin seeing plaque and calculus on its teeth. As soon as you see it, bring your pet in for a check-up. If plaque and calculus are allowed to build up, the gums become red, inflamed and infected. Your pet can develop a painful case of gingivitis. The build-up also causes bad breath or halitosis. Intense pain and tooth loss are the inevitable result if periodontal disease is allowed to develop. Bacterial infection of the gums can spread to the heart and kidneys. None of it has to happen.
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