What to Look Out For – Dental Disease
You know your pet’s behavior best! We recommend giving us a call and scheduling an exam with a doctor if you notice any of the following:
- Chattering teeth
- Blood in their mouth
- Discoloration of the teeth
- Red and/or inflamed gums
- A strange odor
- A change in eating patterns
- Low energy
Doctor Exam
If you notice any of these signs, the next step would be scheduling an exam with a doctor. One of our doctors will assess your pet’s teeth and make a health plan based on your pet’s level of dental disease.
We offer two different types of dental cleanings: an anesthetic or a non-anesthetic dental. Similar to a human dentist visit, a non-anesthetic (or “awake”) dental cleaning is performed while your pet is awake or mildly sedated. If there is pathology found in the mouth like a broken tooth, pocketing, or a wiggly tooth, we recommend an anesthetic dental. In the unfortunate case that your pet does not allow the technician to fully perform a non-anesthetic dental, we will also recommend pivoting to an anesthetic dental procedure.
Dental Work
On the day of your pet’s anesthetic dental procedure, the patient will be anesthetized and a registered veterinary technician (RVT) will perform: dental x-rays, full scaling, polishing, and examine the mouth. The veterinarian will determine what teeth need to be extracted based on their thorough examination and dental x-rays. The RVT will call you with an updated estimate and let you know what our best plan is for the health of your pet’s mouth. Upon your approval, the RVT will continue with the dental procedure.
While your pet is under anesthesia, it is much easier for our team to fully examine their mouth. More diseased teeth can be discovered during this examination or even during the extraction procedure. Our dental estimates are made with the best approximation without having been able to fully examine their teeth while under anesthesia. We do our best to prepare our clients and tell you it may be possible that more dental work needs to be done.
Aftercare
Once the procedure is complete, our team will monitor your pet while they wake up. Expect your pet to be with us most of the day. When you pick up your pet, you will be given prescribed medication and a take-home dentistry instruction packet. Your packet will include a detailed summary with aftercare instructions specifically written for your pet by our team.
The first 24-48 hours will be the most challenging of the post-operative period as your pet processes through the anesthesia. We recommend 7-10 days of wet or moistened food. After a couple of days, your pet should be doing well and be back to their old routine! Time and time again we hear how pets do so much better after the diseased teeth have been extracted. If your pet has had most of its teeth removed, don’t worry! They can still eat hard kibble, play regularly, and do the normal things a pet with teeth can do.
Price
Depending on the extent of the procedure your pet requires and how many teeth need to be extracted, the price of dental surgery can vary quite a bit. We do our best to give you the most precise and detailed estimate.
At Alicia Pet Care Center, we have a highly trained and experienced team to take on any dental issue. Our RVTs are super passionate about dental health and can answer any questions you may have.
Please give us a call or check out more of our services for any further questions.
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