Dental Health

Dental health is a very important part of your pet’s overall health, and dental problems can cause, or be caused by, other health problems. Your pet’s teeth and gums should be checked at least once a year at the Vegreville Veterinary Clinic to check for early signs of a problem and to keep your pet’s mouth healthy.

Toothbrushing and Dental Prophylaxis in Cats and Dogs

Dental services provided by Vegreville Veterinary Clinic include:

• Full mouth dental exam
• Dental x-rays
• Dental cleaning and prophylaxis
• Extractions
• Crown Restorations

Reasons to keep your pet’s mouth healthy (Pet Health Network, IDEXX):

1. A pet with healthy teeth equals a pet with better breath!
2. Dental disease can actually lead to problems with your pet’s organs, such as the heart.
3. Retained baby teeth can cause problems in pets too! Did you know that full grown dogs have 42 teeth and full-grown cats have 30 teeth? Before their adult teeth grow in, though, their baby teeth have to fall out. Sometimes, not all of the baby teeth want to come out. This can lead to problems like gum irritation and tartar buildup.
4. Caring for your pet’s teeth can prevent other health problems, saving you money over the long term!
5. You need regular dental care and you brush your teeth everyday – why wouldn’t your pets? Your veterinarian can help you learn to brush your dog’s teeth and your cat’s teeth.
6. Did you know that 4 out of 5 dogs over the age of 3 years have some sort of periodontal disease? It can be caused by the buildup of plaque, so it’s important to go in for regular dental checkups and cleanings.
7. Pets that don’t get dental care can painfully lose their teeth – this can be terribly painful and cause serious health problems.
8. Your dog and cat are very good at hiding pain – you might never know that your pet has a serious dental problem until it’s very advanced. This is yet another reason it’s important to take your pet in for regular dental checkups.