Memo From Your Pet: Brush My Teeth
In light of the fact that a major part of your pet’s health is their oral and dental hygiene, Whitworth Animal Clinic offers veterinary dentistry for Madison and the surrounding communities. As early as age two, pets may already have tartar and plaque build-up on their teeth. With a dental exam, Dr. Charles Whitworth and his staff will be able to determine whether a home health plan or dental cleaning at our office will be needed. Older pets may have advanced tartar build-up and some degree of gum and periodontal disease.
Build Up Is Bad: Veterinary Dentistry is Good
Dental health problems for your pet begins when plaque and tartar are allowed to build up on teeth. Plaque breeds bacteria, which can in turn infect your pet’s gum tissue and his or her root system. Leaving these problems untreated can often lead to damaging healthy teeth or even extractions due to the root structure being compromised. A more serious consequence of dental disease occurs when an infection spreads throughout a pet’s bloodstream to other vital organs such as the lungs, heart, or brain.
A Vet Visit is Best
The first step in improving your pet’s oral health is a complete dental exam. If a dental cleaning is recommended for your pet, Dr. Whitworth or one of our Whitworth Animal Clinic assistants will discuss the procedure with you. Since most pets are unable to sit calmly in a dental chair with his or her mouth open, we perform dental cleanings while your pet is under anesthesia. Preliminary blood work prior to the dental cleaning is required in order to rule out any underlying health conditions that might make using anesthesia a bad option. For older pets, we run a more comprehensive blood profile.
Dr. Whitworth and his veterinary dentistry staff recommends dental procedures annually for most pets. Ask us about home dental care and procedures that you can do yourself to ensure your pet’s oral health. Make an appointment at Whitworth Animal Clinic in Madison, Alabama, to have your pet’s teeth checked and cleaned.