September is Senior Wellness month and we have been focusing on common health issues that affect our older pets, here on our blog. Periodontal disease is a serious health problem in senior
pets and can be an underlying cause for age-related medical conditions like
heart, kidney, and liver disease. If your pet has visible plaque, chronic
bad breath, red, swollen or bleeding gums, or if they salivate excessively,
they could be suffering from periodontal disease.
Periodontal disease can be a problem for cats and dogs of any age, so it is important to be vigilant in preventative care early on in their lives. The following information goes over dental care for your pet, what happens during a dental cleaning at our practice, and what you can expect afterward. For the month of September we are offering $50 off a dental cleaning for senior pets!
Why is routine dental care important for my
pet?
Our pets are susceptible to the same
dental and periodontal diseases as us, and if left untreated it can lead to
painful conditions with serious consequences. By age 4, most dogs and cats
already have periodontal disease. And severe cases of dental disease can lead
to life threatening conditions. So it’s very important to follow a routine of
preventative dental care for your pet.
Preventative dental care includes:
1. Brushing your pet’s teeth every day.
- There are toothbrushes and toothpastes made especially for pets to
help make it easier on both of you. The toothpastes come in flavors that pets
enjoy, and are designed to be harmless if swallowed. Human toothpastes should
not be used, because they can cause harm if swallowed. Pet toothbrushes are
designed with double-ended brushing heads designed to fit a pet’s mouth, and
soft bristles for their sensitive gums. If you establish this as a regular part
of your routine early on with your pet, it is much easier to maintain this
healthy habit. Just hold your pet’s head lightly with one hand, and use the
other hand to clean with the toothbrush and paste.
- Initially to get your pet to accept tooth brushing, you can use a
gauze pad filled with toothpaste. wrapped around your forefinger, and rub it
back and forth on the teeth. It is not as effective as a toothbrush, but can be
a helpful first step to establishing regular tooth brushing.
2. Regular checkups with your pet’s
veterinarian.
- This can help identify potential problems early on, allowing
earlier, easier, and less costly treatments.
3. Annual dental cleanings.
- If necessary, your pet may need a yearly dental cleaning, which
requires your pet to be under general anesthesia.
Why does my pet need to be under anesthesia
during a dental cleaning?
Performing the dental cleaning while your
pet is under general anesthesia allows for complete cleaning of both the inside
and the outside of the teeth, allows for subgingival cleaning and scaling,
allows for probing to look for pockets or neck lesions, and allows a full oral
exam to be completed to look for any other abnormalities such as tumors or
epulis.
In addition, dental cleanings can be a
frightening experience even for people, let alone for pets.
The whirr of dental tools and odd
sensations in their mouth are not something they are used to experiencing. So
for the safety of everyone involved, we do all dental cleanings under general anesthesia.
What is the average cost of the procedure*?
|
Under 5 years old
|
Over 5 years old
|
|
|
If extractions
are needed
|
|
If extractions
are needed
|
Cats
|
$384
|
$708
|
$431
|
$753
|
Dogs
|
$420
|
$723
|
$464
|
$768
|
*Average prices listed are before any promotional discount is
applied.
**Preventative Care Discount: Take 15% off your entire Dental
Package if your pet has had a dental performed at our hospital in the last 18 months.
This discount cannot be used with any other discounts.
The dental procedure includes the pre-anesthetic
exam, pre-anesthetic blood work, IV catheter and fluids, anesthesia, dental cleaning,
and a complementary toe nail trim. If extractions are needed, additional
charges will apply.
How should I prepare my pet for the
procedure?
Do not allow your pet to eat after 10pm
the night before the procedure. You may leave water available, but only in
small amounts. Do not let them gulp down a large amount. In most cases your
pet's doctor will advise you to administer any regular medications as you
usually would.
Check with your pet's doctor if you have
specific questions regarding medications the morning of the procedure.
What happens during the procedure?
When you bring in your pet on the day of
their dental, you will meet with an admit technician who will review your
estimate with you and go over any preferences or questions you may have before
you drop them off. A deposit will be taken, and you will need to fill out some
forms. The admit technician will explain that once your pet is brought back to
the Treatment area, their pre-op will begin. A pre-anesthetic exam will be
performed by their doctor, and pre-anesthetic blood work will be drawn and run
in our in-house laboratory. Pre-anesthetic blood work is important to ensure
that your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia and that their body will
be able to process the anesthetic agents properly.
If everything is acceptable, your pet
will then be anesthetized. Most pets will have an intravenous catheter placed
to administer the anesthetic, to provide fluid therapy during the procedure,
and it allows us immediate access should your pet require additional
medications.
After your pet is anesthetized, a
breathing tube will be placed in their trachea or windpipe. This will allow the
delivery of oxygen and the gas anesthetic directly into the lungs. The
technician will remove the plaque and tartar using both hand scaling and
ultrasonic scaling, and they will polish the teeth. Polishing smooths and
protects the clean surface, and the fluoride in the polishing paste strengthens
the tooth enamel. The doctor will evaluate your pet’s mouth and determine if
any teeth need to be extracted or if any additional treatments are required. Extraction
of teeth is only done if leaving the tooth in place will be detrimental to the
health of your pet.
How soon can my pet go home after the
procedure?
Your pet will need 3-4 hours to recover
here at the hospital following their procedure. The technician or the doctor
will call you to let you know that the procedure is finished and that your pet
is in recovery, and they will schedule a discharge appointment time for you to
come in and meet with our discharge technician.
The discharge technician will review the
instructions from the doctor about aftercare, go over any medications that have
been prescribed, and answer any additional questions you may have.
Are there any post-anesthetic precautions I
should take?
After undergoing anesthesia, your pet
will probably still be a little tired for the rest of the day. You should keep them quiet and confined,
and keep them away from things like pools, decks, and stairs for the remainder
of the day. It is important to allow them to rest quietly, away from other pets
and small children.
After your pet has settled in at home for
about 30 minutes or so, you can offer small amounts of water. If no vomiting
occurs for 30 minutes after that, then small amounts of food may be given. If
any vomiting occurs, withhold food until the next day, but leave water
available. If you are concerned or have any questions, please call us anytime
at (925) 866-8387 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (925) 866-8387 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.
