Your pet’s veterinarian is their primary health care provider, which means that your veterinarian is also your pet’s dentist. At Spaw City Animal Hospital, we perform dental services including annual examinations, full dental x-rays, professional teeth cleaning, and extractions when necessary.
We recommend dental check-ups at your pet’s annual wellness visit to help prevent serious dental problems. Neglected dental hygiene leads to periodontal disease initially through a buildup of plaque on the surface of the tooth and below the gum line. Over time, the bacterium in the plaque leads to inflammation of the gums, the destruction of supportive tissues and bone which results in red gums, bad breath, tooth loss, gum infection, and pain. Periodontal disease is also linked to liver and heart disease and has the potential of shortening your pet’s life.
With the added advantage of regular screenings using digital dental radiology, our veterinarian can locate potential problem areas. Dental x-rays enable us to identify tooth root changes (like abscesses) and alveolar bone loss, and it gives us the opportunity to discover teeth that are painful or require extraction.
The best prevention against periodontal disease is regular professional dental cleanings and a good daily home dental care program.
Signs of periodontal disease include:
- • Pawing or rubbing at the mouth
- • Drooling
- • Decreased appetite
- • Change in eating habits
- • Bad breath
- • Bleeding from the mouth
- • Aggressive behavior
If you notice your pet having any of these symptoms, it’s possible that periodontal disease is already in advanced stages. Call today for a dental evaluation for your pet. Spaw City Animal Hospital is easily accessible to Malvern, Arkadelphia, Glenwood, Mt. Ida and beyond.