Pet Dental Care from our Phoenix Veterinarian
Humans are not the only animals who need good dental hygiene and regular dental exams. Dogs, cats, and other pets need preventative dental care too, and our vet will make sure they get it. At Catalina Animal Hospital, we know how important it is to protect our patients’ oral health and treat dental problems as they occur. Our Phoenix vet offers dental care for dogs and cats, including dental exams, dental cleanings, and treatments for dental diseases and injuries.
Why is Pet Dental Care So Important?
Your pets depend on their teeth and jaws to eat, fetch, groom, and more. Their dental health is directly related to their quality of life, so it’s important to stay on top of it. Luckily, good oral hygiene prevents most painful and uncomfortable dental problems, from tooth loss to more serious dental diseases and injuries. If you keep your pets’ teeth clean and bring them in for regular exams, they can avoid painful and inconvenient consequences later.
Pet dental health is also important for your pet’s overall health. Bad breath, cracked teeth, and other signs of poor dental health are red flags for diseases, injuries, and infections that get worse without treatment. Dental disease can lead to life-threatening infections and illnesses, including damage in the liver and heart, so it’s a good idea to invest in good dental care before your pets’ other organs are affected.
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 especially important to come in. Here are some of the most common pet dental problems that require attention from a 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, make an appointment with our veterinarian. He will take a closer look inside your pet’s mouth, and he may follow up with X-rays and further diagnostics before scheduling a thorough dental exam and cleaning. During this exam, your pet will be sedated to reduce stress, pain, and injury risks as we examine their mouths fully and clean, scale, and polish each tooth.
What Dental Problems Can our Veterinarian Detect?
Pets face many of the same dental problems that plague humans. Cavities are rare, but here are some of the pet dental problems and diagnoses that we see in our animal hospital:
- Periodontal disease
- Broken teeth
- Misaligned teeth
- Broken teeth roots
- Abscesses
- Cysts
- Tumors
- Broken jaws
How our Phoenix Veterinarian Can Help
Our Phoenix veterinarian makes it easier to protect your pets’ dental health. In addition to thorough, ultrasonic scaling and cleaning under sedation, we perform tooth extractions and other oral surgeries to treat dental problems. We will also help you learn how to brush your pets’ teeth and invest in toys and foods that are healthy for their mouths.
If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (602) 269-8969.