Your Dental Questions Answered

Our veterinary team harps a lot about dental disease. Why? Because we’ve seen the effects of painful periodontal disease, both in our patients and our own pets. We’ve seen tooth root abscesses, fractured teeth, and resorbing lesions. More than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats have some form of dental disease by the age of three. Let’s tackle some of our most asked questions about teeth in our furry friends.
1. Dogs and cats in the wild don’t get dental cleanings. Why does Fluffy or Fido need a dental cleaning? The simple answer is: yes, they do. Animals in the wild do get dental disease and it shortens their life. Coyotes life an average of six to eight years in the wild, double that in captivity, in no short part due to good dental health.
2. Can’t we just do a non-anesthetic cleaning? Not if we want to do a good job. Cats and dogs, despite how good they might be, will not stay still long enough to do a thorough dental probing and dental radiographs (x-rays). They may stay still long enough to scrape tartar off the teeth, but we may be missing more serious disease.
3. Why do dental x-rays? Dental radiographs in animals, just like the x-rays taken at your dentist, look for disease under the gumline. They allow us to look at the roots and evaluate the bone around the tooth. Forty percent of dental disease is found under the gumline. Dental radiographs allow us to find and treat that disease before it causes further pain and problems.
So, what can we do as loving pet owners to help keep our furry friends healthy? Bring your pets to see your veterinarian at least once a year. We will look closely in their mouth and check for any indication of dental disease. If we find a problem, we can best advise you what to do next. If a dental cleaning is required, we can do the dental x-rays, scaling, and polishing that is needed. If teeth have to be removed, we have the surgical skills and pain medications to make your beloved family member feel better!
Stevenson Ranch Veterinary Center is located at 25832 Hemingway Avenue in Santa Clarita. For more information, please call 661-799-0655 and visit www.srvc.com.