Cats and dogs need access to qualified preventive and restorative veterinary dental care. At Spring House Animal Hospital, our vets provide the attentive care your pet needs.
Dental Care for Pets
As experienced veterinarians, we know most pets don't get the oral hygiene care they need to keep their teeth and gums healthy. That's why we're so passionate about providing routine dental care as a critical component of your pet's oral and overall health.
At our Ambler animal hospital, we provide complete dental care for your pet, from basic dental exams, teeth cleaning and polishing to surgeries and dental x-rays and radiographs.
We are also steadfast advocates of home dental care and dental health education for pet owners.
Pet Dental Surgery in Ambler
We understand that heaing that your pet needs dental surgery can feel overwhelming. We have designed this process to be as stress-free as possible, for both you and your pet.
We do everything in our power to ensure your pet's experience with us is easy and comfortable. That includes explaining each step of the process to you in detail before the procedure, including preparation and any post-operative care requirements.
We offer tooth extractions, gum disease jaw fracture repair surgeries for cats and dogs.
Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams
At least once per year, your pet should see us for a dental examination. Cats and dogs should see us for a dental examination. Those who are more prone to oral health issues may need to come in more often.
Spring House Animal Hospital can examine your pet, and diagnose and treat any dental health problems.
- Symptoms
If you notice any of the following symptoms in your pet, it's time for a dental checkup.
- Bad breath
- Loose and/or broken teeth
- Discolored teeth
- Extra teeth or retained baby teeth
- Bleeding from the mouth
- Tartar buildup
- Pain or swelling in or around the mouth
- Reduced appetite or refusal to eat
- Abnormal chewing, drooling, or dropping food from the mouth
- Assessment
Before each dental exam, we conduct a thorough pre-anesthetic physical assessment.
During the assessment, we take blood and urine analyses to ensure your pet is healthy enough to undergo anesthesia. It may be necessary to perform additional diagnostics such as an ECG or chest radiographs.
A thorough pre-anesthetic physical assessment will be completed for your pet before the dental exam. Once your pet is under anesthesia, a complete, tooth by tooth oral examination and charing will be conducted. - Treatment
Next, the vet will clean and polish the teeth (including beneath the gum line) and take x-rays or radiographs. A fluoride treatment will be applied to each tooth.
During the final step, we apply a dental sealant to keep plaque from attaching to the enamel. If the vet discovers advanced periodontal disease, a treatment plan will be developed and discussed with you.
- Prevention
Two weeks after your pet's initial assessment and treatment appointment, you'll return for a complimentary follow-up examination.
During the visit, we will explain how to implement teeth brushing at home. We may also recommend products to help improve your pet's oral health.
FAQs About Pet Dental Care
These are some of the most frequently asked questions we've received from our patients about pet dental care.
- Why do pets need their teeth cleaned?
As a consequence of poor oral health, our pets may develop periodontal disease or tooth decay.
Just like in humans, when animals eat plaque can remain on their teeth and build up into tartar if it's not regularly brushed away.
This may lead to infections in the mouth, tooth decay, loose or missing teeth or periodontal disease. That's why we tell our patients that regular dental care is so essential to preventing pain or disease in the gums.
- How can I tell if my pet has oral hygiene issues?
Did you know oral health problems may show up as behavioral issues? If dental issues are impacting your pet, you may see them drool excessively (and the drool may contain blood or pus), or they may paw at their teeth or mouth. Excessive yawning, teeth grinding or insufficient grooming are also common symptoms.
Other signs of oral health problems can include tooth discoloration, bad breath and swollen gums. If pain is an issue, it may keep them from eating. Find out more about symptoms to the left under Pet Teeth Cleaning & Exams.
- What long-term problems can poor oral health potentially cause in my pet?
Besides leading to issues ranging from bad breath and cavities to advanced periodontal disease, oral health conditions and issues can lead to disease in the heart, kidney, liver, and other vital organs and areas in your pet's body.
Tumors or cysts may also develop. Your pet may also not feel well in general (if you've ever had a painful cavity or toothache, you know how it can impact your mood). Oral health conditions can also cause significant pain and shorten the lifespan of your pet.
This is why regular dental care is so critical to our pets' physical health and wellbeing.
- What happens during a pet teeth cleaning appointment?
When conducting your pet's regular oral exam, the vet will examine his or her mouth to look for any sign of oral health conditions or any symptoms requiring treatment.
The vet will clean tartar, plaque and other debris from your dog's or cat's teeth. If gingivitis, cavities or other conditions need to be addressed, the vet will explain these in detail and provide any advice on which actions to take at home.
In some cases, dental surgery will be necessary to treat serious conditions. In these cases, your pet will be given anesthesia before their dental procedure to ensure they are comfortable and do not experience any pain. However, you'll need to provide special care post-surgery.
If you do notice any of these symptoms, book a dental appointment with us.
- What should I do at home to keep my pet’s teeth clean between dental appointments?
Brush your pet's teeth regularly at home and provide dental chew toys to help remove plaque from their teeth.
Do not allow them to chew on things that will damage their teeth, such as objects, bones or toys that are too hard. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet's oral health, contact your vet.
At home, you should brush your pet's teeth on a regular basis and give them dental chew toys. These will help eliminate plaque.
Do not allow them to chew on things that will damage their teeth, such as bones, toys or objects that are too hard. Always contact your vet with any questions or concerns regarding your pet's oral health.
Veterinary Dentistry: Anesthesia & Your Pet's Oral Health
Because cats and dogs do not understand what's going on during dental procedures, they will often react by biting or struggling. Anesthesia is provided to all of our patients before we perform dental procedures. This puts significantly less stress on the animals, and allows us to x-ray and treat their mouth as required.