Pet Dental Care From Your Veterinarian in San Diego

Just like people, pets require regular dental care in order to maintain good oral hygiene. Without good dental care, pets can develop painful, unpleasant dental problems. Regular dental exams at the veterinarian in San Diego can help protect pets from problems like lost teeth, bad breath and infections.

The Importance of Pet Dental Care

Pets can experience a wide range of dental problems if their teeth are not properly cleaned. Some of the most common pet dental problems include:

• Cavities. Pet teeth can develop cavities that cause painful toothaches and other problems.
• Infections in the teeth and gums. Infections in the teeth and gums can make chewing and eating difficult for your pet.
• Bad breath. When bacteria builds up in a pet's mouth, this can cause the pet to experience very bad breath, which can make spending time with your pet unpleasant.
• Loose and missing teeth. Loose and missing teeth make it difficult for pets to chew and can even impact your pet's nutrition.

Through routine cleanings, dental examinations and dental maintenance, your pet's veterinarian can protect your pet from these problems. Good dental care can help your pet maintain healthy teeth and gums.

Signs of Dental Disease

Dog teeth problems and cat dental issues tend to have many of the same symptoms. Knowing the signs of dental disease can help you decide when it's time to bring your pet to the veterinarian. Some of the most common signs include:

• Loose, missing, chipped or cracked teeth.
• Bleeding gums.
• Red, inflamed gums.
• Stained teeth or stained gums.
• Very bad breath.
• Reluctance to eat.
• Inability to eat hard foods.

If your pet displays any of the signs above, bring him or her in for a visit to the San Diego veterinarian as soon as possible. Even if you aren't able to identify these problems in your pet, it's still important to bring your pet in for a dental exam and cleaning at least once per year.

What To Expect During An Exam

During your pet's dental exam, the veterinarian will screen for problems like cavities, infections, loose teeth, periodontal disease, gingivitis and bad breath. When the exam is taking place, your pet's veterinarian will:

• Inspect your pet's teeth and gums for plaque buildup and dental disease.
• Remove the plaque from your pet's teeth.
• Polish your pet's tooth enamel.

Once your pet's exam is over, the vet may make recommendations for further dental procedures that can help your pet. Pet tooth brushing is important for pets. Often during these exams, the San Diego veterinarian will go over tooth brushing best practices with pet owners to ensure that pets are getting the right treatment at home.

Contact Your Pet's San Diego Veterinarian

As your pet's San Diego veterinarian, we can help your pet get the treatment he or she needs in order to maintain healthy teeth and gums. To make an appointment, contact your Tierrasanta Vet today.