Dental Health

Jan 20, 2020

February is dental health month at ECVS!

Did you know that dental health is just as important for your pet as it is for you? Not only do regular dental cleanings help combat bad breath, they also help keep some major health problems at bay. Poor dental health can cause a myriad of issues for your companion, ranging from trouble eating to heart and liver disease. The per-anesthetic blood work sometimes reveals underlying organ disease before the animal shows symptoms, helping us to treat and manage conditions before they get severe. Research has even shown that regular dental cleanings extend the life of our dogs!

If you've noticed that your pet's breath is a bit more foul than usual, it may be an indicator that it's time to have a dental cleaning. Some vet clinics have “anesthesia free” dental cleanings – so why do we fully anesthetize our patients? Cats and dogs don't understand that we are helping them. Humans barely want to stay still for dental X-rays – do you think your pet would? During a dental cleaning, we ensure that every tooth is cleaned, both above and below the gum line. We take dental radiographs, since most of the issues that affect teeth are actually down where we can't see them. If a tooth isn't healthy, we are then able to extract the tooth – after additional pain medication is administered. The American Veterinary Medical Association does not recommend anesthesia-free dental cleanings; they are not effective and can be stressful for you pet.

Dental disease is a serious condition that can be prevented. However, if your pet already has periodontal disease, we can help! Pets can't tell us that they're uncomfortable with language, but they express themselves in other ways if we listen. Animals are great at masking pain, and can sometimes hide fractured teeth, gingivitis, and other painful conditions from their human counterparts. That's why regular dental cleanings are so important – issues can be identified and addressed as early as possible.

During the month of February, ECVS offers a 10% discount on dental cleanings! What a perfect time to get your pet the dental care they deserve. We also ensure that nails get trimmed and anal glands get expressed while the patient is asleep – it's a win win!

If you have questions about your pet's dental health, please contact us and make an appointment to speak with our knowledgeable veterinarians. We would love to help you!