Veterinarian Offering Spokane Pet Dental Examinations and Care

When most pet owners consider the idea of dental hygiene, they think of a dentist instead of a veterinarian. The truth is statistics have shown that up to 80% of all cats and dogs over the age of three have some sort of periodontal disease. Spokane pet dental care is just as important for our pets as it is for humans.

At A-1 Animal Care Veterinary Services in Spokane, we offer a full scope of pet dental procedures, including cleanings, tooth extractions, oral surgeries and more. Our experienced veterinary staff performs dental cleanings and other dental procedures under general anesthesia with cardiac and respiratory monitoring.

When it comes to cleaning both cats' and dogs' teeth, we ensure the removal of all plaque through the use of our ultrasonic scaler, which generates a frequency of vibrations that loosens the tartar, making it easier to remove the heavier pieces. We then use pumice flour to polish the teeth with a low-speed oscillating polisher removing any remaining film of plaque. Each of these steps is designed to encompass a complete teeth cleaning for your pet to improve their overall dental care. Our veterinarian, Dr. Lohr also handles emergency dental procedures and surgeries as needed.

Dental Care Included in Veterinary Wellness

Most Spokane pet owners do not need to schedule an additional appointment for their pet to receive basic dental care. A dental examination is usually part of a routine wellness check and can be performed at an initial visit to the clinic. Pet senior wellness and puppy and kitten wellness appointments are also important. By making sure the animal has clean teeth free of plaque and tartar, pet owners are preventing further health issues from arising. For the most optimal results when cleaning cats' and dogs' teeth, we will use an ultrasonic scaler in addition to a low-speed polisher with pumice flour paste to polish each tooth.

Dental screenings should also be considered a major part of puppy and kitten wellness checks. Starting at the animal's eight week appointment, a veterinarian will usually monitor tooth growth. Any signs of impacted teeth, an ailment that is more common to particular breeds but possible in any cat or dog, will usually be noted. If needed, the impacted tooth will be later removed via surgery to prevent an infection or abscess.

Another common pet dental ailment is called Stomatis. This disease, most often discovered in older animals during a pet senior wellness check, arises when the pet's immune system becomes allergic to a large amount of plaque buildup on the teeth. The immune system then begins to shed the teeth, keeping the pet from being able to eat and/or drink. While it is most common in aged pets, Stomatis can happen at any stage in an animal's life. If left untreated, it can also lead to a dangerous infection that can become fatal.

Besides regular dental examinations, pet owners themselves can be important in the oral care of their animals. Any bleeding or blisters in or around the mouth should be immediately reported to a vet. In addition, any circumstance where a dog or cat is refusing food or water could be indicative of a dental problem or another serious disorder.

Spokane pet owners interested in scheduling a pet dental appointment with our veterinary clinic may do so by calling us at 509-927-7367.