Professional veterinary clinic in Owatonna, Minnesota providing vet services, including medical, surgical, dental, wellness exams, pet education and boarding for your dog, cat, rabbit, bird, reptile, or pocket pet.
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Imagine what would happen if you didn’t care for your teeth reularly. The same basics of dental care also apply to your pet’s teeth. Pet dental health is the most common disease in dogs and cats. About 85% of dogs and cats have some form of it and are vulnerable to the pain, bad breath and disease that could follow.
At Fairview, we understand the importance of good dental health. Discoveries in human medicine have found a correlation between dental disease and diseased internal organs including the heart. As pets’ life expectancies increase, so do their challenges with dental disease. We know that your pet’s health, well-being, and comfort are of the utmost importance.
Every year, a wellness exam is performed by a doctor on your pet when vaccines are given. During that exam, the teeth and gums are checked for signs of tartar build-up and periodontal disease. If there isn’t significant tartar or signs of disease, the doctor will recommend brushing at home, daily if possible, and regular monitoring. If tartar build-up or periodontal disease are found, the doctor will recommend a dental (which includes the scaling and polishing of teeth under anesthesia).
What is involved in a teeth cleaning for my pet?
First, on the day of the initial visit or shortly before the scheduled procedure, a sample of blood will be taken from your pet to run a preanesthetic blood profile. Preanesthetic blood profiles are recommended before all procedures or surgeries, but required before dentals due to the possible damage/effect that dental disease can have on internal organs and the probable age of the animal undergoing anesthesia. It is our opportunity to "see" what can’t be seen on physical exam; and helps to determine that your pet can tolerate anesthesia.
What is tested on a preanesthetic blood profile?
1. Alkaline Phosphate (ALKP): An enzyme present in multiple tissues, including liver and bone. Elevated levels can indicate liver disease, Cushing’s syndrome or steroid therapy.
2. Total Protein (TP): The level of total protein can indicate a variety of conditions including dehydration, inflammation and diseases of the liver, kidney or intestine.
3. Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN): Blood urea nitrogen is produced by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. Abnormally high levels can indicate kidney disease or dehydration, and low levels can be associated with liver disease.
4. Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT): An enzyme that becomes elevated with liver cell injury.
5. Creatinine (CREA): Creatinine is a byproduct of muscle metabolism and is excreted by the kidneys. Elevated levels can indicate kidney disease, urinary tract obstruction or dehydration.
6. Blood Glucose (GLU): High levels can indicate diabetes. In cats, high levels can also indicate stress, which can be the result of the trip to the veterinary hospital. Low levels can indicate liver disease, infection or certain tumors.
7. Hematocrit (HCT): Checks red blood cell quantity. High percentages can indicate dehydration and low percentages can indicate anemia.
The evening before your scheduled dental, you will be reminded to fast your pet after 6:00 pm. Your pet can still have supper, but then no more food (including treats) until the following afternoon; but your pet should still have access to water at all times. The following morning, your pet should be dropped off between 7-7:30 am.
On the morning of the procedure, your pet will receive a sedative before being intubated for gas anesthesia. Gas is a very safe way to anesthetize and the entire protocol is very similar to human anesthetic protocol. Your pet will be monitored by a certified veterinary technician (who monitors breathing, heartbeat, and capillary refill time (CRT)) as well as being hooked up to a Cardell monitor (which constantly measures/checks blood pressure, pulse oximeter, and electrocardiogram (EKG)).
Under the supervision of a veterinarian, a CVT then scales and polishes the teeth with a dental unit just like the one you may see at your dental office. Extractions (including surgical extractions) and root canals are performed by a veterinarian.
In some instances, depending on the age and health history of your pet, the doctor may recommend a complete blood profile (which is more extensive blood testing than the preanesthetic) and/or IV fluids during the procedure.
Dental disease is not just bad breath. There are four stages of the disease from gingivitis to advanced periodontitis (which is defined as chronic bacterial infection destroying the gum, tooth and bone. Bacteria may be spreading throughout the entire body via the bloodstream and may damage the kidneys, liver and heart (Virbac Animal Health, (www.cetdental.com).
The good news is that so much can be done to prevent and treat dental disease. If you are noting symptoms of dental disease such as bad breath, decreased appetite, pain when eating or lethargy, please call Fairview Animal Medical Center to schedule an appointment.
In Owatonna call 507-451-4591 about Pet Dental Care Products or click here for more information.