Does your dog or cat have bad breath? Even if their teeth look clean, they may have periodontal disease (a bacterial infection around the tooth). Did you know that a tooth is like an iceberg? Only a small portion is visible above the gum line (the “crown”). The majority of the tooth is below the gum line where we cannot see. This is where most of the destruction and infection takes place. The first sign of infection and tooth damage is bad breath. That is followed by tartar build-up, gingivitis, bleeding gums and eventually gum recession and tooth decay/loss. Disease of the teeth and mouth can also lead to internal damage and affect the heart, kidneys and liver.

If you notice that your pet has bad breath, excessive tartar (brown material) on the teeth, and/or reddened swollen gums, please bring your pet to us soon for dental care. During all of our dentistry’s, your pet’s teeth are x-rayed, probed for any deep pockets, scaled using an ultrasonic scaler, polished, and a fluoride treatment is applied. In addition you may also ask for Oravet to be applied. Oravet is a barrier sealant to help prevent plaque from adhering to the teeth, it makes the dental cleanings last longer and is inexpensive.

For the months of February and August, we offer a 20% discount on dental cleanings. We hope you will take advantage of this offer and call soon for an appointment. We all want to work together to keep your pet healthy and happy.

We also offer a discounted mini blood profile at the time of the dental. The blood profile is recommended for all dogs and cats 7 years old or less and required for any pet over 8 years of age. This is an internal exam on your pet before anesthesia to insure there are no underlying diseases your pet may have that may not be apparent on a physical exam. Blood work can pick up on early signs of disease that can be treated more successfully than when they start showing symptoms.