February is National Dental Month–Save 15%!!
February is national pet dental month–this is a great time to get your pet’s teeth cleaned and start on a home care plan of prevention. Dental health is SO important for the overall health of your pet.
The procedure of having a professional dental cleaning for your pet is much the same as when you go to the dentist for your cleaning. Except for one big difference…your pet must be under anesthetic. This is the only way to get a true cleaning. The best pet out there won’t allow us to use our instruments in their mouth for cleaning for 30-45 minutes or longer without protest. And a true dental prophylaxis requires xrays as well. Many of the problems with an animal’s teeth are below the gumline. So while an anesthesia free cleaning by a groomer or other non-professional may sound good, it really does nothing for the health of the pet, and can lead to a false sense of security when there actually may be disease lurking in the mouth.
For a dental cleaning, your pet is dropped off fasted in the morning. The doctor does a complete exam (and blood work if necessary) and formulates an individual anesthetic plan. An intravenous catheter is placed and sedation and pan medication is given. Anesthesia is begun and monitors are put in place to keep track of heart rate, respiration, oxygen levels, and blood pressure. Fluids are given to keep the blood pressure at the right level. A trained technician cleans each tooth and polishes them. Then the doctor does a complete oral exam including probing, radiographs, and charting. If any teeth need extraction then a local anesthetic is given and the doctor proceeds with extraction. During the whole procedure your pet is kept on a warming unit, constantly monitored, with IV fluids running. Your pet is never left alone from start until he or she is fully awake back in it’s cushioned pen.
So call today to schedule your pet’s professional cleaning–It’s 15% off now to the end of February!! If you would like instructions on a home program for dental care please call to talk to a technician. We can also provide instructions and demonstrations on proper brushing techniques.
Tags: Brushing, Dental, healthcare, Periodontal, Prevention, tooth