Oral & Dental Care for Healthier Pets

Dental disease can eat away at your pet’s health. Because bad breath is so common, it is often just accepted and causes little or no concern to owners.

In fact, bad breath is often one of the first signs you might notice that may be a symptom that your pet has dental disease. Loomis Basin wants you to know that any of the following conditions can also be warning signs for oral and dental problems:

• Yellowish or brown teeth
• Red or swollen gums
• Bleeding gums
• Decreased appetite or difficulty eating
• Loose or missing teeth
• Facial swelling associated with upper or lower jaw

A regular regimen of care for the teeth and gums can dramatically extend the life of your pet. We recommend regular preventive care as the key to maintaining your pet’s long-term oral health.

Your Pet’s Mouth Is the Gateway to Good Health

Regular cleaning, or prophylaxis, will help your pet maintain good oral hygiene that can lead to better health. Our comprehensive dental care program, known as an Oral ATP — Assessment, Treatment, and Prevention — includes:

• Dental consultation with one of our veterinarians who has a special interest in dentistry
• Pre-anesthetic screening lab panel
• Pre-anesthetic antibiotic injection
• IV catheter and fluids as needed
• Induction and inhalation anesthesia
• Cardiac, respiratory, and temperature monitoring
• Continuous observation during anesthetic recovery period
• Comprehensive cleaning and polishing
  • Ultrasonic removal of gross calculus buildup
  • Scaling to remove additional plaque and calculus
  • Charting and staging of teeth
  • Root planing under the gum lines as needed
  • Polishing following scaling because scaling may leave rough surfaces if not polished
• Dental radiographs as needed
• Staging, assessment, and written estimate for any additional work to be done in 4–6 weeks
• Recommendation for frequency of future dental assessments

Comprehensive Pain Relief Makes Your Pet Less Anxious

Every time we perform any procedure for your pet’s oral health, including cleaning teeth, your pet will be placed under general anesthesia. Since most veterinary dental care involves some degree of work under the gum line, it requires general anesthesia to ensure that the procedure will be as pain free as possible. As with all of our medical and surgical procedures, all dental work is performed by highly qualified staff with experience in dentistry. We use the most up-to-date techniques and equipment and ensure that your pet is carefully monitored during and after the procedure.

Preventable Pet Dental Problems

At every wellness examination, Loomis Basin veterinarians will talk with you about your pet’s habits and lifestyle. We will make suggestions, such as not giving treats at bedtime, which can minimize pet dental problems. Regular dental care can help you and your pet avoid more costly and painful procedures. Please call to schedule a consultation today.