What is a Dog and Cat Dental Cleaning in Spring, TX?
Before we get into the details of dog and cat dental cleanings, it’s important to understand why we recommend them for all pets. In 2019, the American Animal Hospital Association stated that by 3 years of age, over 80% of dogs and cats have some form of periodontal disease. Left untreated, this painful condition can reduce your pet's quality of life, causing daily discomfort, difficulty eating, and irritability. To put this into perspective, the average child sees their dentist by age 12 while most pets never receive dental care.
The problem with oral disease is that for most dogs and cats living with this condition, outward signs are not immediately apparent. Many pets will continue eating as normal despite the pain, giving their owners the false impression that they’re healthy. At Houston Pet Dental, we aim to shed light on the subtle nature of oral disease development and the harmful, potentially lasting effects it can cause if treatment and prevention are not pursued.
Oral disease is similar to other diseases such as heartworms, diabetes, and kidney disease in the fact that it can be treated. This process can be slowed and, for earlier grades of periodontal disease, it can even be reversed! That’s right, routine dental cleanings can keep your pet’s teeth clean, healthy, and where they belong.
Call us at (832) 702-7599 or schedule your pet's complimentary consultation online so we can improve their oral health and quality of life.
What Exactly is a Dog and Cat Dental Cleaning?
Dental cleanings are essential for maintaining a comfortable mouth in dogs and cats, but there is more to a thorough cleaning than you might think! It’s important to clean the crowns of your pet’s teeth, but what about the roots?
Dogs have 42 teeth and 68 roots. These roots often harbor painful lesions, which can only be assessed with X-rays while your pet is safely monitored under gas anesthesia. Assessing the entire tooth from crown to root is the only way for us to identify oral diseases that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
What is Done During a Dental Cleaning?
A thorough cleaning starts with proper planning. Our comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment include:
Taking patient history and performing a physical exam
Preoperative blood work to check your pet’s health and organ function
IV catheter placement and administration of IV fluids
Premedication to reduce anxiety and discomfort
General gas anesthesia and monitoring of vitals such as EKG, heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse oximetry
Tartar removal from above and below the gum line (most oral pathologies occur below the gum line)
Dental scaling and charting of all teeth
Intraoral X-rays to screen for hidden oral diseases
Polishing all surfaces to reduce abrasions and smooth the enamel
Fluoride treatment to further protect your pet's enamel
Creating Comfortable Mouths and Healthy Lives for Our Patients
With our thorough dental cleaning procedure, Houston Pet Dental accomplishes two critical things. First, we assess your pet’s mouth from every angle to check for unseen and painful pathologies. Then, we fully clean your pet’s teeth and gum line, removing pain-causing buildup and slowing disease. A clean mouth is important, but above all, we want your pet’s mouth to be comfortable, too.
Remember, the number one sign of dental disease is no sign at all. Call (832) 702-7599 or schedule your pet's complimentary consultation online to discuss their dental needs and get a dental assessment!