"More than just a cosmetic issue, yellow teeth and bad breath can be a sign 
​of serious disease in our pets, which may affect their kidneys, liver, and hearts. 
Oral disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem for pets, 
with most dogs and cats becoming affected by age 3." 
- AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association)
​
​Click here to test your knowledge on Pet Dental Health with a quiz made by the AVMA!

What is periodontal disease?

 Periodontal disease is a process in which bacteria attaches to teeth over time and starts to calcify when mixed with your pet's saliva. It has four stages to it's development.When left alone, it will eventually collect over all surfaces of the teeth. When this bacteria starts to calcify, it turns into a hard "shelf" on the tooth for bacteria to collect on, sometimes collecting underneath the gum line to cause inflammation called Gingitivis.
        Gingivitis is seen commonly in pets and even in humans. The main signs of gingivitis include redness of the gumline, pain, swelling, and sometimes even active bleeding. It is considered one of the beginning stages of periodontal disease. If left untreated, periodontal disease will continue to progress onto the later stages. 
         Once the hard calculus shelf of bacteria sits on your pet's teeth for a long period of time, it can lead to infection around the root of the tooth. This is due to all of that bacteria collecting under the gum line on that calcified "shelf". Eventually, the bacteria starts to eat away at the tooth root and can cause loose teeth and even loss of teeth. This process can be painful to your pet, and cause bad breath and sometimes even changes in their eating habits.
        It is recommended that your pet have an oral/dental exam once yearly to check for signs of gingivitis or infection. It is easy to treat periodontal diseases at the earlier stages, before the teeth become fully diseased. It is also recommended that your pet have yearly dental cleanings by trained veterinary staff. Once your pet has had a dental cleaning, it is in your hands to provide at home dental care. 

So my pet needs a dental cleaning. What should I expect?
Book your pet's dental in the month of February and receive 15% off the dental procedure cost!

         A dental cleaning takes place in our veterinary office under general anesthesia. You will drop your pet off that morning on an empty stomach and pick him/her up that same day! The process of a dental cleaning procedure is very similar to a human's visit to the dentist. After your pet is anesthetized under the supervision of one of our veterinary technicians and a veterinarian, our veterinary technician will take extensive dental radiographs of every tooth in your pet's mouth. We will then check all of the teeth, looking for things like fractures, decay, and pockets that sometimes form under the gum-line (sometimes called periodontal pockets, and when infected, called abscesses).Then, we will scale all of the bacteria and calculus off of your pet's teeth, leaving them clean and fresh, as well as polish your pet's teeth with a minty tooth paste. A veterinarian will then access your pet's teeth, extracting any dead or diseased teeth. Your pet will wake up comfortably under the supervision of our staff and be discharged to you a few hours later. 
        At the time of discharge, our veterinary technicians will go over the findings of your pet's dental cleaning. We will show you the dental radiographs and explain any findings to you. Then, we will go over what we call a dental chart, which is a diagram of your pet's mouth, and we will explain any visual findings to you as well. At this time, we are happy to go over any at home dental care options that you are interested in pursuing. Keep reading to discover all the at home dental care options available!

Click here to read AAHA's Dental Care Guidelines for Pet Owners. 

At Home Dental Care Options
​ Click here to see a full list of the Veterinary Oral Health Council's approved dental products!

 There is such a wide variety of dental diets, treats, rinses, and pastes! But try to stick to those that are approved by VOHC for higher quality products. Please visit www.vohc.org/ for further information.

 
At Bondurant Animal Clinic, we carry:
Hills Science Diet T/D 
Hills Science Diet T/D Small Bites
Hills Science Diet T/D Feline
​Hills Science Diet Oral Care Canine & Feline
Hills Science Diet Dental Chews
Royal Canin Dental Canine & Feline
OraVet Oral Chews
C.E.T. Veggie Dents
C.E.T. Hextra Enzymatic Rawhide Chews for Dogs
C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Rinse
C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothbrush & Paste Kit
C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste, multiple flavors
If you see something you'd like to try, but aren't sure if we carry it, let us know! We can either order the product for you, or it may just be available in our online store & pharmacy. Call us today or stop in to talk with a staff member!