Pet Dentistry

Pet Dentistry Services – Virgil Animal Hospital

Improve the overall health of your pets with quality pet dentistry provided by Virgil Animal Hospital. Pet dentistry, though it may seem compartmentalized, has pervasive impacts on overall physiological wellbeing. Many cats and dogs never have their teeth brushed, leading to the fact that over 80% of canines and 70% of felines have the dental disease before reaching the age of 3. This is a highly preventable statistic, manageable through dentistry throughout the pet’s life.

At Virgil Animal Hospital we provide Preventative Services, Palliative Care for Pets and Prescription food for Pets.

Though there are clear and apparent signs of some dental distresses, like swelling and pain, there are additional symptoms that can tell you it is time to see a pet dentist. These include:

Bad breath
Excessive drooling
Loosening teeth
Depressed behaviour
Bleeding, swollen, or red gums
Tartar on teeth (yellow or brown buildup)
Changes in eating habits
Trouble chewing
Pawing at face

Veterinary Dental Consult

Whether or not your pet shows any of the above symptoms, just as with humans, it is important to evaluate your pet’s dental health at least annually. Due to the fact that food debris, bacteria, and other matter accrues around the teeth, if left unobserved, deterioration to soft tissue and bone will occur. Such decay can cause irreversible gum disease, loss of teeth, and potentially require costly oral surgery.

We provide the necessary general anesthesia to properly assess the teeth and clean beneath the gum line since just ridding of plaque and tartar from the tooth surface is merely cosmetic and ineffective over the long term. Dental x-rays will be performed with every dental procedure as well. These images are extremely invaluable as it is very common to find problems with tooth roots that would otherwise go unnoticed.

Dental disease has the propensity to impact other organs when bacteria enter the bloodstream, inducing serious infections in the heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, and bloodstreams. In the event that these issues are not addressed in a timely fashion, they can lead to fatality. Combining a physical assessment with the proper lab work will determine if an oral infection has spread. To ensure your pet’s dental wellbeing, contact our clinic and book their appointment today. The experienced staff at our clinic will not only assist with your pet’s current dental status but will also instruct you on how to properly brush your pet’s teeth, along with recommending tartar-combatting foods.