Veterinary Dentistry
All dogs (& cats) have 'dog breath' NOT!
'Bad breath' is your first sign that there are excessive bacteria in your pet's mouth. Bacteria will only multiply, and eventually your dog or cat will have significant oral disease.
Approximately 50% of cats and dogs over the age of 5 have significant oral/dental health compromise, like periodontal disease with bone loss around the teeth.
We all know about the relationship in human medicine between poor oral health-- the existence of infection and periodontal disease and its relationship to damaged heart, liver and kidneys. The same relationship is proving to be true of our animal companions! A pet with a healthy mouth is far more likely to be a healthy and happy pet!
For years, the 'standard of care' in veterinary dentistry was to remove visible calculus above the gum line, and extract any loose teeth. We now recognize this level of dental care to be, sadly, pathetic. It fails to address the TREATABLE and usually PAINFUL disease happening in the mouth. The loose tooth has likely been painful for years; that pain and that tooth loss can be prevented--by regular examination by a veterinarian and appropriate pro-active care, like sub-gingival cleaning and polishing, root planing, bone grafting and the use of long-acting antibiotic dental gels in periodontal pockets. We have a digital dental radiograph system in the Mobile Dental/Surgical Clinic, so we can accurately evaluate the viability of a tooth, and determine an appropriate treatment plan to save it if we can.
Pricing: how much will it cost??
As you can imagine, the cost of having your pet's mouth throughly evaluated under anesthetic and treated can vary widely. If your pet has 'just' gingivitis, the dental care can be as inexpensive as $250. If your pet has many problem teeth and needs dental radiographs, root planing and surgical extraction(s), it can be $500 to even more. The most important thing to keep in mind is that ANY oral disease will be less expensive and less painful the earlier we get to deal with it! Your pet will live a healthier happier life, too.
Call (268-3000) for an appointment; or send e-mail
to: DrB@VenVet.com, and we'll come do an examination, and discuss the best options for your pet. Of course, proper at-home routine
care like brushing is invaluable to maintaining your pet's health, and
we will cover that in detail with you, too!