Oral wellness plays a vital role in your pet's overall good health. Cats and dogs are excellent at not showing pain and discomfort. And while they're acting tough, hidden oral disease or injury can be leading to serious health problems.
During an oral examination, the doctor will perform an initial dental check of gums and teeth, then tailor a plan for your pet. Although some obvious issues may be clear in this exam, your pet's oral condition can not be fully assessed until it has a comprehensive cleaning and examination under anesthesia, where the doctor can examine what's happening below the gumline. When x-rays are called for, we are able to gather excellent information with advanced digital technology.
We recommend annual oral examinations. If the doctor sees something of concern, a cleaning will be advised - the frequency of cleanings is based on need and varies widely from patient to patient. In general terms, smaller breeds, certain larger breeds like greyhounds, and certain pure bred cats tend toward having more dental health issues. Along with the exams and cleanings that we can provide at the clinic, a regular practice of brushing teeth at home will go a long way in supporting oral health. 
Here are some signs that your pet may have an oral disease or injury and require an exam:

• Bad breath
• Loose, discolored or tartar covered teeth
• Drooling or dropping food from mouth
• Bleeding from mouth
• Loss of appetite or loss of weight

** Please note: sometimes the only symptoms are general lethargy and loss of appetite, and once the diseased teeth are removed, the pet feels tremendously better. Over the years, we have been amazed at how often this is the case - we believe the pets are experiencing low-grade, chronic pain from infected teeth and gums, and getting their mouth healthy relieves that.

For more information about our dentistry services or to schedule an appointment please call our office 512.258.7447!