Dental Care

Like humans, pets can get periodontal disease. If your pet's teeth are not brushed regularly by age three, 80% of all dogs and 70% of all cats show signs of dental disease. Periodontal disease - an infection of the tissue surrounding the teeth that takes hold in progressive stages.

Naturally when food remains in the cracks of the teeth, especially at the gum line, plaque and tartar form . If left to spread, plaque can lead to gingivitis - an inflammation of the gums, causing them to become red, swollen and bleed easily.

Plaque soon hardens into tartar that forms a wedge separating the tooth from the gum line, causing more damage, and professional cleaning is needed to help manage it. If the plaque and tartar build-up continue unchecked, pus can form at the root of the tooth and the tooth becomes impacted.

In the final stages of periodontal disease, the tissues surrounding the tooth are killed, the bone socket holding the tooth in erodes and the tooth falls out.

The goal of a regular cleaning is to keep the gums healthy. You can identify unhealthy gums by a reddening of the gum where it meets the tooth. Most infected gums will be above the brownish tartar that will be present on the tooth. This infection causes the breath to have a very unpleasant odour. Bacteria can gain entry into the body through infected gums that bleed easily. Healthy gums help prevent infections on the heart valves and other internal organs.

Preparation for Anaesthesia

All patients will receive a physical examination to determine their pre-anaesthetic requirements. It will be advised that patients over 8 years have pre-anaesthetic blood tests. We do this to determine if there is any organ disease that may interfere with anaesthesia. The need for general anaesthesia is a concern of all pet owners for any procedure. Using the newest and safest anaesthetic protocols significantly reduces this risk. Having a normal blood profile minimizes the risk. We want you to feel comfortable that their is more risk in leaving a diseased mouth, than there is in giving an anaesthetic to facilitate a thorough cleaning.

Checking In!

Hospital admission time is between 7:30am and 8:30am. It is important that your pet not have anything to eat after 8pm the night before and nothing to drink after midnight.

Upon arrival your pet will be weighed and you will be asked to complete a Hospital Admission Form.

Please feel free to bring a favourite blanket, toy or special food/treats that will make your pet’s stay more comfortable!

In order to thoroughly clean your pet’s teeth, it is necessary for them to be under General Anaesthetic. Many animals would not willingly cooperate with hands, instruments and the whizzing polisher being inside their mouth!

Bonnie gives the pre-med.

Preparation for Dentistry

Before settling into his/her kennel in our treatment room, your pet will be given a comprehensive physical exam before anaesthetic. A pre-med injection is administered to help your pet relax.

Shortly after, an intravenous catheter is placed in the cephalic vein and IV fluids administration are started. Then the Doctor gives an anaesthetic injection that allows your pet to be intubated (a tube placed down the throat to assist in breathing and to deliver the General Anaesthetic). This will ensure a safe, pain and anxiety free, procedure.

Your pet is hooked up to a cardiac monitoring device that also measures blood pressure and other vital signs throughout the procedure.

We are now ready to begin

Bonnie cleans Sebastian’s teeth.

Dental Prophy

Your pet’s teeth are carefully examined to search for infections, loose teeth and to look at the general condition of the teeth.

Tartar is removed with an ultrasonic dental scaler ( same as is in a human dentist’s office), and the teeth are polished. If any teeth need to be extracted the veterinarian will do so, trying to save as many teeth as possible. It is not always possible to know ahead of time if teeth will need to be extracted. Any tooth beyond saving, or likely to cause future problems soon, should be removed.

Waking up!

When surgery is completed staff carefully supervise the patient until the intubation tube is ready to be removed and the pet fully wakes up.

When ready, your pet is then moved into a kennel in the treatment room to wake up and recover.

Tawnya & Tigger work together in the Treatment Room.

Watching the action!

Your pet spends the rest of the day resting in the recovery area, where they are in continuous view of hospital personnel

After a final check by the doctor the pet is ready to go home, usually after 4pm!!

In the event of extractions, your pet may need antibiotics and/or pain medication. As having teeth removed increases the cost of dentistry, it is much better to take measures now to keep your pet’s teeth healthy. We carry a variety of Veterinary toothpastes, toothbrushes and oral care chews. Just ask us for advice regarding care of your pet’s teeth!