Dental Services

When is the last time you had your pet’s teeth cleaned? According to the AVMA, pets who have never had a teeth cleaning have signs of dental disease by the time they are three years old. For that reason, Cedar Bay Veterinary Clinic recommends that all pets have a yearly dental cleaning and oral examination.

Gum Disease in Dogs and Cats

Dogs and cats are prone to developing the same types of dental diseases and problems as humans, including gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth decay, staining and cavities. The process of dental decay and disease starts every time your pet eats. When your pet eats, food particles get on their  teeth and gums. This fuels the bacteria in your pet’s mouth, causing an acid attack on the enamel of their teeth and creating a sticky, clear substance called plaque. If the plaque is left on teeth, it hardens into tartar. When plaque and tartar are left on your pet’s teeth for an extended period of time, it can lead to gingivitis, periodontal disease, cavities and oral infections.

Signs of Dental Disease in Pets

When it comes to detecting potential oral health problems in pets, owners must be vigilant in noticing changes in behavior. This is because pets often do not act like they are in pain until the pain is severe. If you notice any of the signs below, it is important that you contact us to schedule  a dental checkup, teeth cleaning and gum disease treatment.

  • Broken or Loose Teeth
  • Discomfort While Eating
  • Extremely bad Breath
  • Pussy or Bloody Drool
  • Red Gums
  • Staining on the Teeth
  • Swollen or Inflamed Gums
  • Weight Loss or Loss of Appetite

The Hazards of Untreated Periodontal Disease in Pets

Untreated periodontal disease in dogs and cats can lead to dangerous infections, like abscesses and blood infections. Advanced dental disease may also affect your pet’s heart, liver and kidneys. In order to avoid these potentially life-threatening conditions, it is important to keep your pet’s teeth clean with a combination of at-home care and regular veterinary teeth cleanings.

Pet Dental Cleanings in Winter Garden

Cedar Bay Veterinary Clinic recommends that all dogs and cats receive their first dental checkup shortly after they are weaned and at least once a year for every year of their lives. Pet dental checkups include an examination of your pet’s head, neck, face, ears and mouth in order to check for signs of health problems. Once the basic examination is complete, your veterinarian will completely clean all the plaque and tartar from your pet’s teeth and below the gum line. Once your pet’s teeth are clean, we can give you tips and tricks to help you remove food particles and plaque at home between professional pet dental cleanings, like pet-safe toothpastes and toothbrushes as well as dental chews.

To learn more about our veterinary dental services and how they can protect the health of your pet, call us at (407) 656-8004 today.



Teeth Cleaning: COHAT

Download our complete COHAT information form here!

Although cleaning the teeth is certainly a part of the dental care we provide, we prefer to use the more descriptive term COHAT. What does that mean? 

C = Comprehensive
O = Oral
H = Health
A = Assessment
T = Treatment

Why COHAT? To safely and fully evaluate all tooth surfaces, and below the gum line, our patients need to be anesthetized. It is important to perform a complete oral examination to fully diagnose dental conditions and perform proper treatment. There may be several different stages of periodontal disease or other oral conditions present in one patient.

What does a COHAT include? Your pet will undergo a pre-anesthetic physical examination, and a blood profile will be evaluated to monitor blood cell count and organ function. Once this has been reviewed, an anesthetic plan is formulated for the pet. An intravenous (I.V.) catheter is placed for I.V. Fluids and anesthetic drugs. General anesthesia is induced, and your pet is set up with anesthetic monitors for pulse oximetry, blood pressure, end ECG monitoring. A warming blanket is placed around the pet, and a veterinary technician monitors the vital signs and anesthetic level. 

THEN, we are ready to examine and treat your pet's oral condition:

    • Each tooth is examined, and the periodontal probe is used to check for pockets. The gum tissue is examined for inflammation.
    • Dental radiographs (xrays) are performed to identify root infections and bone loss around roots, and any teeth with diseased roots are extracted.
    • The crowns of the teeth are cleaned with hand and ultrasonic instruments to remove plaque and tarter.
    • An ultrasonic scaler or hand instruments are the used under the gums which are the most critical part of treating periodontal disease.
    • Any teeth with periodontal disease are treated.
If no further treatment is needed, then the teeth are polished. After drying,  OraVet, a plaque preventive treatment is put on the teeth to help keep plaque from sticking to the teeth.

Download our complete COHAT information form here!


Sources:

https://www.thepetsplaceanimal...

https://www.vetscene.com/Pages...

http://www.vetstreet.com/

https://www.beyondindigopets.c...

https://gallery.vetmatrix.com/...

https://www.avma.org/public/Pe...

https://www.avdc.org/ownersinf...

https://www.colgate.com/en-us/...

https://www.avdc.org/periodont...

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Monday:

8:30 am-5:30 pm

Tuesday:

8:30 am-5:30 pm

Wednesday:

8:30 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:30 am-5:30 pm

Friday:

8:30 am-5:30 pm

Saturday:

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Sunday:

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