February is Pet Dental Health Month!
Did you know that by the age of 3, 70-80% of all dogs and cats have some form of dental disease? Believe me, I’ve greeted enough of them to know this is a FACT! WHEW – talk about dog breath! The problem is that halitosis can be a sign of some serious dental issues. Gingivitis, tartar and plaque are also signs of dental disease. Tartar and plaque are formed from bacteria just sitting on the enamel, waiting to invade under the gum line, enter the blood stream and cause serious infections in major organs such as the liver, kidneys or heart. As you can tell, pet dental health is important too! Which is why we are offering 10% off all Dental Cleanings and Products during the month of February! WOW!
Dental Cleanings are done under a light plane of general anesthesia. In order to determine the safest anesthesia for your pet, pre-anesthetic blood work and an exam are performed prior to administration of any anesthesia. We often recommend placement of an IV catheter and IV fluid administration during surgery to support the cardiovascular system and smooth recovery. The procedure lasts anywhere from 45 min to 1 hr and 30 min (if extensive dental work is needed). Don’t worry – heart rate, respiratory rate, oxygen level in the blood and body temperature are monitored during the procedure to keep your pet as safe as possible. During a thorough oral examination, all findings are recorded on a dental chart to keep in your pet’s file. The Dental Cleaning is done much the same as your dental cleaning – an ultrasonic scaler is used to remove plaque and tartar, the enamel is polished (with mint polish) and a fluoride treatment provides the grand finale. Because of the amount of plaque removed during a typical pet dental procedure, antibiotics are often send home for a few days. Dental extractions may also be performed, in which case pain medication will also be sent home.
Please join the fight against DOG BREATH! (I would greatly appreciate it!)
Sincerely,
Dr. Daisy
