Important Links & FAQs

Yes, it is! Dental care is just as important for your pets as it is for humans. While humans can take care of their teeth and head to the dentist when an issue arises, pets rely on their owners to take care of this for them. If they are in pain, they can’t exactly tell you what’s going on – or drive in for a dental visit. Regular dental care helps prevent tooth decay, pain, and several potentially dangerous issues arising from tooth decay.

If the bacteria causing the decay is not addressed, it can enter your pet’s bloodstream. This can lead to potentially dangerous issues, such as kidney disease, but this can be prevented through regular dental care such as tooth brushing, dental chews, dental rinses, and dental cleanings when recommend by your veterinarian.

In this case, calculus has nothing to do with high school math class. Instead, it’s a term used for tartar that develops around the gum line and hardens, becoming impossible to remove without proper dental cleaning tools. A normal toothbrush is no match for calculus!

The first and most important step to take is to have your pet’s teeth cleaned by a veterinarian. This removes any tartar that has already formed and hardened along the gum line. Pleasant Valley’s veterinary team will help recommend the best teeth cleaning schedule depending on your pet’s health.

In between cleanings, there are a few steps you can take at home. You can try brushing your pet’s teeth but there are also dental treats rinses and chew toys that can help.

In some ways, pets are like small children. It can be difficult to get them to sit still for a thorough exam or procedure. A good way to comprehensively examine your pet’s oral health and clean the teeth and gum lines well is to sedate them. This will always be done under the care of your veterinarian and a team of veterinarian technicians to help monitor and perform the procedure.