Pet Dental Care in Garland
Dental health is one of the most often overlooked - and under-appreciated - aspects of veterinary care. At Country Brook Animal Hospital, our well-rounded dental health program helps pets maintain their pearly whites and more! It's our goal to prevent issues like gingivitis, cavities, and other issues that stem from poor dental health in our dog and cat patients.
Signs of Dental Issues in Pets
Most pet owners know that bad breath is a sign of pet dental health problems. Less-known symptoms to look for include:
- Inflamed gums
- Yellow/brown residue along the gum line
- Drooling excessively
- Unable to hold onto or eat food
- Irritability, sleeping more often, and not wanting to play
- Blood-tinged saliva
- Pawing or rubbing at their mouth
How We Diagnose and Treat Dental Disease
Issues like swollen gums (known as gingivitis) and loose teeth are caused by infected, painful gum tissue. These conditions leave your pet uncomfortable and unable to eat properly. They also make your pet at higher risk for heart, liver, and kidney disease.
We take a thorough approach to diagnose and treat dental disease by conducting an oral exam to reveal any signs of dental disease in your dog or cat.
If, after your pet's oral exam, he or she needs to have their teeth cleaned, we:
- Take dental X-rays to get a better idea of what is going on below the gumline and better gauge your pet’s oral health, so radiographs are essential.
- Perform all dental procedures with your pet fully-sedated. This allows us to examine your pet’s mouth slowly and carefully to look for anything abnormal. We know how important it is, and don't want to rush.
- Remove plaque and tartar by scaling and polishing the enamel of your pet's teeth during the dental procedure. By removing buildup on the teeth, we’re also removing harmful bacteria.
- Extract any loose, decayed, or broken teeth. These are painful, unsightly, and will improve your pet's health and comfort.
Preventing Dental Disease at Home
Brushing your pet's teeth gives them many benefits. Start the habit of brushing your pet's teeth early and, before long, it will become a habit.
If brushing isn’t possible for one reason or another, contact us for our teeth cleaning recommendations. We offer many options to keep your pet’s mouth healthy, from dental chews to tartar-control diets.