According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop gum disease by the age of three years. Periodontal disease is the most common dental condition affecting dogs and cats. Infection and inflammation of the gums and supporting tissues of the teeth are caused by bacteria present in plaque and calculus (tartar). The problem begins when plaque and calculus are allowed to build up on a pet's teeth, especially below the gumline. Bad breath, bleeding and inflammation of the gums, receding gums, loosening and the eventual loss of teeth are characteristic of the condition. As bacterial growth continues to increase, the bacteria may enter the bloodstream. This can cause infection of the heart valves (endocarditis), liver, and kidneys. Routine dental cleaning is therefore of great importance. Our veterinarians recommend an oral hygiene program that includes regularly brushing your pets' teeth with a toothpaste formulated for animals. Diet is a major factor in the development of plaque and calculus. Soft or sticky foods should therefore be avoided, while certain chewing toys are beneficial. A specially formulated diet with dental benefits (reduced accumulation of plaque and calculus) is now available for dogs.

To prevent dental disease, your dog needs routine dental care at home. But to perform good home care, you need to start with clean teeth. Brushing will remove plaque but not tartar. So if your dog's teeth have tartar, it is necessary to remove it and polish the teeth. This professional veterinary dental cleaning is often called a prophylaxis or "prophy."

What you need to know for your dog/cats dental cleaning:

- Pre-Anesthetic Bloodwork - Prior to Anesthetizing your dog/cat we at Eagle Animal Hospital recommend bloodwork to check to see if your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia. This test will tell us if the kidneys and liver are functioning properly. It will also tell us if your pet may have an infection, anemia, or a clotting problem.

-Fasting - Before your pet's dental procedure we recommend that no food be given after 8 PM the night before. Water can remain out until the morning of the dental.

-Drop off - Drop off on the morning of your pets dental is between 7:30 - 8:00 AM.

-IV catheter/fluids - The Dr will then do a thorough exam on him/her to identify any potential problems. If your pet is ill the Dr. will contact you and decide how to proceed. If he/she appears in good health then we will put in an IV catheter. This catheter allows us to administer fluids to your pet throughout their procedure. These fluids help to maintain healthy blood pressure and heart rate during anesthesia, as well as help your pet metabolize their medications to allow for a quicker recovery.

-Monitoring – All our patients have a technician whose job is to monitor their vital signs during their procedure. Anesthetized patients are maintained with continuous blood pressure, EKG, and respiratory monitors to be sure they are safe under anesthesia.

-Discharge – When your pet goes home from the hospital, try to allow him/her to take it easy for the rest of the evening. It is important to watch for any signs of complications that may arise following the dental. He/she may be a bit tired for the next 12-24 hours, this is normal. He/she should continue to make steady improvement back to normal activity. If you feel that he/she is not, please call our office. Feed only a small amount of food the evening after his/her procedure. If he/she has had any extractions, you may notice a small amount of blood tinged saliva for a day or two. If you feel that it does not resolve, or if you notice increased blood, pain, or other discharge, please call our office. Please, give all medications prescribed.

-Dental recheck – Two weeks after the dental we will schedule an appointment to do a dental recheck. At this recheck, we will discuss options for your pet’s home dental health care and to help you get started we will give you one free product.