Dentistry

Dental care is vital to the overall health of any pet. Dental disease can lead to health issues with the heart, liver, and kidneys, and can affect the entire body through the bloodstream. In fact, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over three years of age suffer from some form of dental disease, making it the most common pet health issue among our pet population.

In spite of these disturbing facts, many pet owners are not aware of the importance of dental care to their pets’ health. There are a lot of different ways to improve your pets’ dental hygiene, including home brushing, dental chews, and regular inspection.

Spotting & Treating Dental Disease in Your Pet

The most effective way to protect your pet from dental disease is through professional cleanings. We perform thorough cleanings here at Quarryside Animal Hospital, including the area beneath the gums that you can’t see or access at home.

If your pet has brown/yellow teeth, bad breath, or is having difficulty eating, these could all be signs of dental disease. Please call us at (315) 469-3959 today to learn more and schedule your pet’s dental cleaning.

Brushing Your Pet’s Teeth

Imagine if you never brushed your teeth or had them cleaned. Pretty frightening, right? As you can imagine, things would eventually start to go very, very bad inside your mouth: teeth would rot and decay, and gums would become inflamed and infected. Bacteria from those rotting teeth would eventually travel into your bloodstream and could cause other serious health problems. And we haven’t even mentioned the daily, debilitating pain.

It’s the same scenario for your dog or cat. While some people might laugh at the idea of brushing their pet’s teeth or taking them for a dental cleaning, the fact is that by age three, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have some evidence of periodontal disease. Periodic dental exams help maintain proper oral hygiene and prevent future problems.

Quarryside Animal Hospital offers complete pet oral health services, including:

• Dental exams
• Annual dental cleanings
• Dental X-rays
• Extractions

Following American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines, Quarryside Animal Hospital only does cleanings and dental work on anesthetized pets. To ensure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia, we do require a routine blood test before the procedure.

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Preventive Dental Care Near You

Brushing your pet’s teeth several times per week is the best way to prevent plaque and tartar build-up. Interested in learning how to brush your pet’s teeth? Just ask, and our veterinarians will be happy to help you get started. If you have a pet that won’t tolerate brushing, our veterinarians can also recommend products that will help keep your pet’s mouth healthy in between cleanings.

To Make an Appointment for a dental exam or cleaning, call us at (315) 469-3959.