Veterinary Dentistry & Dental Surgery
Comprehensive Veterinary Dentistry
Implementing routine dental care for your pet is an important part of their overall and oral health. However, the majority of cats and dogs are not getting the oral care they require to help their gums and teeth stay healthy.
The veterinary dentists at the Novato animal hospital, provide complete comprehensive dental care for your pets. Some of the dental services we offer include teeth cleanings and polishings, dental X-rays and exams as well as dental surgeries.
We make sure that we provide all loving owners with education regarding pet dental health care.
Dental Surgery For Pets In Novato
Our team understands that it can be staggering to learn that your beloved pet requires dental surgery. That's why we are driven to make the process as easy as possible for you and your furry companion.
The veterinary dentists at South Novato Animal Hospital will do everything they can to make sure your cat or dog's experience with us is stress-free and comfortable. Your vet will explain each step of the process in full detail prior to the operation, including all of the requirements for preparation and post-surgery care.
Some of the cat and dog dental surgeries we offer include gum disease treatments, tooth extractions, and jaw fracture repair surgeries.
Veterinary Dentistry & Exams
Bringing you pet in for an annual checkup once a year is like taking your cat or dog to the dentist. If your pet happens to be more susceptible to dental conditions they might have to come in more frequently.
The vets at South Novato Animal Hospital are able to examine, diagnose and treat dental health issues in both dogs and cats.
- Symptoms
Bring your pet in to the vet for a checkup if you find they have any of the symptoms below so they can get the cat or dog dentist care they need.
- Bad breath
- Discolored teeth
- Tartar buildup
- Loose and/or broken teeth
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- Pain or swelling in or around the mouth
- Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- Assessment
Before your pets dental exam your vet will perform a comprehensive pre-anesthetic physical assessment.
The assessment will include a urine and blood analyses to make sure your pet is safe to go-through the anesthesia. Your vet may also conduct other diagnostics like an ECG or a chest radiograph.
As soon as your cat or dog is under anesthesia, our team will perform a full oral examination and charting.
- Treatment
After the assessment we clean and polish your pets teeth and gums and take X-rays. Following the cleanings we put a fluoride treatment on every tooth.
The last step of the treatment process is to place a dental sealant to keep plaque from building up on the enamel. If your vet finds that your pet has developed advanced periodontal disease they will create a treatment plan and explain it to you.
- Prevention
We recommend booking a follow-up examination for two weeks after the first assessment and treatment.
At this appointment, our team will talk to you about how you can implement at home oral care and teeth brushing for your cat or dog. They may also suggest different oral health care products for your pet.
FAQs About Pet Dental Care
Below is a list of the questions our vets get asked most frequently about pet dental care.
- Why do pets need their teeth cleaned?
As a consequence for poor oral health cats and dogs can get tooth decay or periodontal disease.
When our pets eat, plaque can build up on their teeth and turn into tartar (if not brushed away).
Plaque and tartar build up can cause loose or missing teeth, periodontal disease, infections in the mouth and tooth decay. Making regular dental care an essential part preventing disease or pain in your pet's gums.
- How can I tell if my pet has oral hygiene issues?
Your pet's behavior can be a key indicator of oral health conditions. Some of the signs you may notice if your cat or dog has dental problems include excessive drooling (drool may contain pus or blood), pawing at the mouth or teeth, excessive yawning, teeth grinding or they stop grooming properly.
Other signs of oral health conditions are swollen gums, bad breath and tooth discoloration. Sometimes the dental pain can even stop them from eating. You can read more about these symptoms to the left under Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams.
- What long-term problems can poor oral health potentially cause in my pet?
Other than problems such as cavities, bad breath and severe periodontal disease, oral health conditions and problems can lead to disease in the heart, kidney, liver and other areas of your pet's body.
Tumors and cysts can also develop. Your pet may also fell unwell in general. On top of the diseases, oral health issues can cause your pet a lot of pain and shorten their lifespan.
These reasons are why routine dental care is so important to your pet's health and overall wellbeing.
- What happens during a pet teeth cleaning appointment?
At your pet’s routine oral exam your vet will look at your cat or dogs mouth for signs of any oral health problems or symptoms that require treatment.
The vet will also clean any tartar or other debris from your pet's teeth. If they do find cavities, gingivitis, or other conditions that need to be addressed, your veterinarian will explain them to you in detail and give you advice on the actions you should take.
Sometimes your pet will require surgery to treat serious conditions. Your animal companion will be given anesthesia before their dental procedure to make sure they are comfortable and don't experience any pain. Although, special care will be required after the surgery.
If you see any of these symptoms in your pet, contact us to book a dental appointment.
- What should I do at home to keep my pet’s teeth clean between dental appointments?
You should brush your pet's teeth on a regularly at home and give them dental chew toys to help get rid of plaque.
Don't allow your cat or dog to chew on things that could damage their teeth including bones, toys or other objects that are too hard. Always call your vet if you have any questions or concerns about your pet's oral health.
Veterinary Dentistry: Anesthesia & Your Pet's Oral Health
Dogs and cats don't understand what is happening during dental procedures, so they might react to them by biting or struggling.
The anesthesia our veterinarians give your pets is similar to what dentists give their anxious or nervous patients. Our Novato vets give anesthesia to all of our patients as part of routine pet dental care before performing any dental procedures, putting less stress on the animal and allowing us to X-ray their mouth as required.