Dental disease is the most common health condition we diagnose at Kendall Animal Clinic. It’s also the most under-treated. Plaque hardens into tartar, gum tissue becomes inflamed, and bacteria from the mouth can seed infection in the heart, kidneys, and liver.
Signs you should never ignore: bad breath, yellow or brown buildup on teeth, red or bleeding gums, dropping food, pawing at the mouth, or sudden disinterest in chew toys.
A complete dental cleaning is performed under modern monitored anesthesia and includes full-mouth digital x-rays — the only way to evaluate the 60% of each tooth that lives below the gumline. Without x-rays, painful root abscesses and resorptive lesions are missed.
At home, daily brushing with pet-safe toothpaste is the single most effective thing you can do. We’ll show you how at your next visit and recommend chews and water additives that are VOHC-approved.
