Anesthetic Dental Cleaning
All dental procedures performed at Twin Oaks Animal Hospital are done under anesthesia to allow thorough examination and cleaning below the gumline. While your pet is under anesthesia, his/her heart rate, temperature, and oxygen saturation are monitored.
The procedure starts with a full mouth scaling of all heavy tartar with an ultrasonic scaler, and then a thorough dental exam will be performed by our veterinarian to look for loose teeth, fractures, pockets of infection, and periodontal disease. Most dental disease in pets is below the gum-line, and often can’t be seen in pets that are awake. Extractions, curetting, and radiographs may be done at this time.
Dental Home Care
Keeping your pet’s teeth clean can be a challenge at home, especially if you have an older pet that isn’t interested in having his/her teeth brushed. However, for young and tolerant pets brushing their teeth is just a combination of patience and slowly working your way through the process. Older or less tolerant pets can be a challenge when it comes to home care. Thankfully, there are many other options that can help reduce the plaque buildup on their teeth. Please speak with your veterinarian before starting one of these alternative home care options, as they are not “one size fits all”. Look for a VOHC seal of approval on over the counter products, which means that the Veterinary Dental Society has approved them for use.
- Dental Diets: Science Diet t/d, Purina Dental Formula
- Dental Chews: CET Chews, Greenies, Milk Bone Dental Chews
- Dental Flushes: Chlorohexidine 2% Flush
Signs of Oral and Dental Diseases in Dogs and Cats:
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar.
- Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area.
- Drooling or dropping food from the mouth.
- Bleeding from the mouth.
- Loss of appetite or weight. *
*This combination can result from diseases of many organs, and early veterinary examination is important.
If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (760) 591-0901.