Dental Care for Your Pets
Dental care is an important part of your furry friend’s overall health. At Wooded Acres Animal Hospital in Middle Island, NY, we offer quality pet dental care services to keep your pet’s toothy grin looking and feeling its best year after year. A healthy mouth can help enhance your pet's overall health and wellness over the long haul. Here is why dental care is so important for your pet:
Prevention of Dental Issues
Pets can develop dental problems like bleeding gums, broken or discolored teeth, and periodontal disease. Gum disease is caused by plaque and bacteria buildup on your pet’s gums and teeth. Gum disease can spread beneath the gum line of your pet's teeth, which causes the gums to swell, bleed, and recede. The infection can destroy the bone structure of your pet’s teeth and cause them to loosen and fall out if left unchecked. There is also a risk of bacteria entering your pet’s bloodstream and infecting its heart, liver, and kidneys. These problems can be averted by making dental care a part of your pet care routine.
Symptoms of Periodontal Disease
Gum disease can be treated to protect and preserve your pet’s teeth if diagnosed early. Some symptoms to watch out for are:
• swollen or bleeding gums
• tooth discoloration due to plaque buildup
• foul breath
• loose teeth
• excessive drooling
• difficulty chewing hard foods
• loss of appetite due to pain while chewing
It is important to schedule annual dental exams and cleanings with your veterinarian to prevent periodontal disease and premature tooth loss.
What to Expect from Dental Pet Care
Dental services from us consist of annual exams, X-rays, and dental cleanings. We thoroughly examine your pet’s teeth, gums, and mouth for signs of infection or gum disease. We take X-rays to examine bone health under the gumline where bacteria can breed. We scale and polish your pet’s teeth during our dental cleaning to remove plaque buildup and leave them shiny and smooth. All dental services at Wooded Acres Animal Hospital are done under anesthesia to avoid pain and discomfort during treatment.
Home Dental Care
Brushing your pet’s teeth at home several times a week can help keep plaque to a minimum. You can also purchase plaque-fighting chew toys and treats to keep your pet’s teeth clean in between vet visits.
Contact Wooded Acres Animal Hospital for Dental Care Treatment
Not keeping your pet’s teeth healthy could lead to some serious conditions that prevent your pet from eating and being happy, so be sure to schedule a dental exam and cleaning today with Wooded Acres Animal Hospital in Middle Island, NY. Call us at (631) 205-0512 and keep your pet’s teeth shining brightly for years to come.