Dentistry
Did you know that dental disease, the most common disease of dogs and cats over 3 years old, is more than a cosmetic issue; it can be painful, affect the animal’s behavior and appetite, and has been linked to diseases of the heart and kidneys? We provide dental cleanings under general anesthesia, with pre-anesthetic blood work, extra supplemental heat, and IV fluids to make the procedure as safe as possible for all of our dental patients. During a dental procedure, we perform a more thorough oral exam than is permitted in an awake dog or cat, including checking all teeth for defects such as fractures, pockets of bone loss, and infection. Then we scale the teeth above and below the gum line, take digital dental radiographs to make decisions regarding extractions, and polish the tooth surface to eliminate any scratches on the enamel. If any tooth extractions or oral mass biopsies are needed, we can perform them during the same procedure.
