Dental

Good dental health is an important part of your pet’s overall wellbeing.  An unhealthy mouth can lead to any number of medical problems from simple bad breath to more serious illnesses like kidney and heart disease.  At Main West Animal Hospital we believe that prevention is key and as such we provide a wide array of veterinary dental care services for our patients to help keep dental issues at bay and prevent future problems.

One of the most common afflictions affecting dogs and cats is dental disease.  Periodontal disease is caused by gingivitis or the continuous build-up of plaque and tarter.  If left untreated it can lead to pain and discomfort for your pet, tooth and gum damage and a host of other health problems throughout your pet’s body.  The advanced stages of periodontal disease can lead to heart, liver, kidney, and lung disease.

Signs of possible dental problems in your pet include:

• Bad breath
• Inflamed or bleeding gums
• Discomfort while chewing
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pawing at the mouth

If your animal exhibits some or all of these symptoms it’s time to get him in for an exam.

At Main West Animal Hospital we offer comprehensive dental care, all performed under general anesthesia, including examination of teeth and gums, tooth cleaning and polishing, descaling of tartar on the teeth, fluoride treatments, inspection of gums for gingival pockets and tooth extractions if necessary.  Our state of the art dental suite is fully equipped with both an anesthetic machine and a digital anesthetic monitor to ensure that your pet remains comfortable and safe during dental procedures.

Our highly skilled veterinary technicians perform thorough dental cleanings using modern multi-speed hand pieces and an ultrasonic scaler to adequately remove dangerous plaque and tarter from your pet’s teeth.  Preventative dental treatments are finished with tooth polishing and a fluoride treatment.

It’s important to note that your pet’s dental care is something that should be maintained year round, not just at annual vet appointments.  Our trained staff will be happy to show you how to brush your pet’s teeth at home, which will help delay plaque and tarter build-up.  As a bonus, regular brushing is also a great way to establish trust and develop a deeper bond with your pet.