Comprehensive Pet Dental Care for Cats & Dogs
Regular pet dental care is an important part of dog's and cat's oral and overall health. However, the majority of pets do not get the proper level of oral hygiene care they require to keep their gums and teeth healthy.
Our New Ulm veterinary hospital provides your pet with full dental care including basic teeth polishing/cleaning, dental exams, surgeries and dental x-rays.
We also make sure to provide pet owners with dental health education on how to implement dental care routines for their pets at home.
Veterinary Dental Surgery at New Ulm Regional Veterinary Center
We know that learning your pet needs dental surgery can be hard. We aim to have this process be as stress-free as possible, for both you and your pet.
We do everything we can to make your pet's dental experience with us as easy and comfortable as possible. We break down every step of the procedure in full detail before hand, including the requirements for preparation and post-operative care.
Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams
As people go to the dentist for routine dental examinations annually, your pet should also visit the vet for a dental checkup once a year. If your pet is more prone to dental issues, they might have to visit the vet more often.
The vets at New Ulm Regional Veterinary Center can examine, diagnose and treat dental health issues in dogs and cats.
- Symptoms
If you see any of the symptoms below in your animal companion come in for a dental checkup.
- Bad breath
- Discolored teeth
- Tartar buildup
- Loose and/or broken teeth
- Pain or swelling in or around the mouth
- Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Assessment
Before your pet’s dental procedure, your vet will perform a comprehensive pre-anesthetic physical assessment.
We will take a blood sample to evaluate internal organ function prior to anesthesia. Our team may also conduct additional diagnostics.
As soon as your pet is under anesthesia, the team will perform a full (tooth by tooth) oral exam and charting.
- Treatment
During the dental procedure, we clean and polish your pet’s teeth and take X-rays.
- Prevention
If needed, we will schedule a follow-up examination two weeks after the original assessment and treatment visit.
During annual wellness exams, we will discuss how to implement a teeth brushing routine at home for your pet. We can also suggest specific products to help improve your pet’s oral health.
FAQs About Pet Dental Care
Here are a few of the most frequently asked questions patients ask our vets about dog and cat dental care.
- Why do pets need their teeth cleaned?
Pets can get tooth decay or periodontal disease due to poor oral health habits.
Like humans, plaque sticks to animals' teeth when they eat, and when not brushed regularly, it can build up into tartar.
This has the potential to develop infections in the mouth such as tooth decay and periodontal disease, as well as missing or loose teeth.
- How can I tell if my pet has oral hygiene issues?
Behavior can be a key indication of oral health issues in your pet. If your companion is having dental problems, they may drool excessively (this drool could contain blood or pus). You might also notice them pawing at their teeth or mouth. Other behavioral signs also include excessive yawning and teeth grinding, or they may stop grooming sufficiently.
Other cues to look out for are swollen gums, tooth discoloration and bad breath. Your pet's dental pain might even keep them from eating. Learn more about these symptoms under Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams.
- What long-term problems can poor oral health potentially cause in my pet?
Other than causing a variety of issues from bad breath and cavities to severe periodontal disease, oral health problems and conditions may lead to disease in the kidney, heart, liver and other parts within your pet's body.
Tumors or cysts can also form. Your companion may not feel good in general. Diseases related to oral health issues may cause serious pain and shorten the lifespan of your pet.
This makes regular routine dental care an important part to the physical health and well being of animals.
- What happens during a pet teeth cleaning appointment?
Your pet will be given anesthesia before the procedure to make sure they do not feel any pain and are comfortable. Please note that special care will be needed after the surgery.
The veterinary technician will clean tartar and debris from your dog or cat’s teeth.
Throughout your pet’s dental procedure your vet will check your companion’s mouth for any oral health symptoms or conditions that need treatment and address these conditions as needed.
- What should I do at home to keep my pet’s teeth clean between dental appointments?
Regularly brush your pet's teeth at home and give them dental chew toys and treats to help eliminate plaque.
Don't allow your pet to chew on things that could damage their teeth. Damaging items can include toys, tennis balls, bones and other objects that are too hard. You should always contact your vet when you have any questions or concerns in regards to your pet's dental health.