Soft Tissue Surgery & Dentistry
Dental Care at PetVets Animal Hospital
Studies have shown that 80% of dogs and 70% of cats experience dental issues by the time they’re three years of age. Dental issues are progressive, and they require ongoing veterinary care to keep in check. Sometimes, progressive periodontal disease can impact the tissues supporting a pet’s teeth—causing plaque buildup, early tooth loss or even illness. The team at PetVets Animal Hospital want to spread the word on how important pet dental care is and provide pet dental treatment to prevent any diseases.
The Importance of Dental Exams
Dental exams are important for your pet’s health. During a dental exam at PetVets Animal Hospital, we focus primarily on the animal’s tooth plaque and tartar. By eliminating plaque and tartar from beneath the gum, a dental can reduce the likelihood of disease. By screening the mouth, our veterinarians can check for periodontal disease, infected teeth, abscesses, cysts, tumors, misaligned teeth and palate defects.
We can also detect minor problems before they become severe. Similarly in humans, bacteria can accumulate within the mouth and produce toxins that can cause severe and possibly fatal health issues most commonly affecting the liver, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
What to Expect
After a dental exam at PetVets Animal Hospital, the veterinarian will give you options on how to care for your pet's teeth. In some cases, suggested treatment can be at-home such as brushing your pets teeth, dental chews, or the addition of a tasteless water additive to help prevent plaque and tartar from forming on your pets teeth.
If more extensive treatment is needed, the veterinarian may recommend your pet receive a thorough dental cleaning under anesthesia. Just like in human dental care, we scale and polish your pet's teeth using the most state-of-the-art equipment available. Dental x-rays may be necessary to fully evaluate the periodontal health of your pet’s mouth and to make sure that no “hidden” disease is present and waiting to flare up (like brewing tooth root infections or resorbed tooth roots). If your veterinarian finds damaged or diseased teeth, they may recommend extractions/oral surgery (removing the teeth) or other procedures as necessary.
What is Soft Tissue Surgery?
Internal organs, the body wall, masses or tumors are all included in the broad category of soft tissue procedures. In other words, these operations cover anything unrelated to the neurologic system, muscles, bones, or joints. At PetVets Animal Hospital, our veterinarians can perform routine spay and neuters, to complex mass removals, intestinal obstructions, stenotic nares correction and many others. In some cases, a pet may require an intensive procedure that necessitates the expertise of a veterinary specialist in a particular area. In those times, we will help direct you to the proper facility that provides the treatment your pet needs.
What To Expect
Prior to all anesthetic procedures, pets are thoroughly examined by one of our veterinarians. This is called a pre-operative (pre-op) exam. Also, at the time of any surgery or dental procedure, we can perform pre-anesthetic blood testing. Pets 7 years of age and older are required to have pre-anesthetic blood work done prior to their anesthetic procedure. This is to make sure their internal organs are functioning within normal capacity.
Your veterinarian will give you detailed instructions about how to care for your pet after their procedure. At the time of pick-up, a technician will go over your post-op care instructions including any dispensed medications before you receive your pet to take home. This is a good time to schedule any follow-up appointments such as rechecks with the veterinarian, bandage changes or suture removals. Following your veterinarian’s instructions exactly will help your pet make a full and speedy recovery!