Here at Furever Family Veterinary Care Center, we believe dental care should be part of every dog’s and cat’s overall health care. Each comprehensive wellness exam involves an oral exam, which allows us to make sure your pet’s teeth and gums are healthy. If we notice any signs of dental problems, such as loose teeth, bad breath, or swelling, we might recommend a professional dental cleaning.
Our cat and dog dental services include the following:
- Routine prophylaxis (cleaning): Involves removing plaque and tartar above and below the gum line, teeth polishing, and a thorough examination of the entire oral cavity. Some of the things we look for include small holes in the enamel, crown fractures, exposed pulp canals, loose or discolored teeth, and masses.
- Dental X-rays: Allows us to detect problems like cysts and fractured roots below the gumline and monitor mildly diseased teeth. We provide you with copies of the X-rays, in addition to photos before and after the cleaning, to take home.
- Teeth extractions/oral surgery: If we find a diseased or otherwise problematic tooth, we may need to extract it or perform another oral surgery.
- Mass removal: Any masses or abnormal tissue that we find gets sent to a laboratory to determine if it’s malignant or benign. We can also refer you to a board-certified veterinary dentist, if you prefer.
Our Pet Dental Safety Protocols in East Moline
Your pet’s safety and comfort are always our top priority, so you can be confident that your four-legged friend will be in good hands while in our care. We provide each patient pain and anti-anxiety medication prior to anesthesia as well as an IV (intravenous) catheter so they can be safely put under anesthesia and receive fluids. Pets are also placed on a warming blanket to keep their body temperatures constant.
To protect the airway, we place an endotracheal tube and ensure the proper percentage of anesthetic gas and oxygen is being administered throughout the procedure. Our veterinary technicians regularly monitor oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, respiration and heart rate, EKG, and body temperature.
Our Pet Dental Product Recommendations
To keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy between visits, we recommend using products that are approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). Ideally, you should brush your pet’s teeth every day with Virbac brand toothpaste, but if this isn’t possible, VentraDent Wipes by Dechra can be a great alternative. Dental treats and chews can also be beneficial for your pet’s health, including:
- Greenies
- Purina Dental Chews
- Purina DentalLife
- OraVet Chews
- CET Hex Chews
- VeggieDent Chews
- Whimzies
- Yummy Combs
- Hill’s Science Diet T/D Food
Never give your pet anything with bones, hooves, or antlers, as these can lead to teeth fractures or even pain.
