Pet Dental Care & Oral Health
When you choose Green Forest Veterinary Hospital to maintain and protect your pet's health, you can be assured your pet is receiving veterinary care based on the highest standards. The same is true for our dental services for dogs and cats.
Pets have dental diseases and problems just like people do. Regular dental check-ups and teeth cleanings at Green Forest Veterinary Hospital, combined with good dental hygiene at home, can increase health, vitality and well-being and help ensure your pet leads the best life possible.
If left untreated, dental disease can not only be painful and inhibit proper nutrition, it can also lead to serious systemic issues that may threaten your pet's overall health before symptoms are noticeable. For those reasons, our veterinary team strongly considers dental care an important piece of your pet's preventive health care program.
Your Pet's Dental Examination
Dr. Delijani and her medical team believe the centerpiece of good dental care is a complete oral exam followed by a thorough cleaning designed to remove plaque and slow its buildup. In our state-of-the-art dental suite, your pet's dental procedure includes:
- Full oral examination under anesthesia by a veterinarian
- Pulse oximeter, ECG, and blood pressure monitoring and charting while under anesthesia
- Diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease
- Full-mouth digital dental radiographs
- Charting of all findings into their dental record
- IV catheter and fluids
- Supra and subgingival ultrasonic scaling
- Tooth extractions if needed
- Polishing
- Irrigation
Determining any of your pet's oral health issues is dependent on our complete dental exam; in particular, our full-mouth dental radiographs are instrumental procedures in identifying issues such as evidence of gum or tooth erosion, gingivitis or excessive plaque buildup. Should we discover any oral health concerns, we will discuss them with you and offer treatment options for your pet. We are experienced dental practitioners and can offer a number of dental procedures and oral surgeries.
In Between Cleanings: Dental Care at Home
You can prevent serious dental problems by making sure your pet receives dental exams at the time of each vaccination, again at 6 months of age and then annually. In between visits to your veterinarian at Green Forest Veterinary Hospital, check your pet's teeth regularly for signs of problems. Brushing your pet's teeth is the single most important way you can maintain good oral health. If performed regularly, brushing dramatically decreases the incidence of gingivitis and can increase the interval between teeth cleaning appointments.
If you are unsure of how to brush your pet's teeth, please ask one of our staff members for instructions. We are happy to help you.
Signs of Pet Dental Problems
Symptoms of dental disease include:
- Bad breath — one of the first signs of dental disease
- A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line
- Red and swollen gums
- Pain or bleeding when your pet eats or when the mouth or gums are touched
- Decreased appetite or difficulty eating
- Loose or missing teeth
If your pet is experiencing any of the above symptoms, please call Green Forest Veterinary Hospital today for an appointment. Your pet should not spend any more time suffering with oral discomfort.
For more information on Green Forest Veterinary Hospital's pet dental services, please call (516) 676-4838.