* "I don't care if my pet has bad breath, so why should I get his teeth cleaned?" Because periodontal disease will shorten your pet's life! If your pet has significant periodontal disease, then his mouth is teeming with pathogenic bacteria. These bacteria get into the blood and end up on the heart valves, kidneys, and lungs where they cause slow but sure deterioration. It's as simple as that. Keeping your pet's mouth healthy is one of the most certain ways of ensuring a longer, healthier life for him.
* "My pet is older and I'm afraid to let you anethetize her to clean her teeth." In the overwhelming majority of pets, the risk of dental-related health problems tremendously outweighs the anesthetic risk. The anesthetic agents we use are very safe. All dental patients receive IV drip fluids and are monitored continuously with EKG, blood oxygen measurements, blood pressure and a respiratory monitor. Older pets are pre-screened by blood testing for anesthetic risk factors. One of our doctors was cleaning his own dog's teeth even when she was 18 years old! There is no such thing as a pet who is "too old" for a teeth cleaning.
* "How often will we need to clean my pet's teeth?" That varies from pet to pet. Factors such as your pet's breed, age, diet and genetic make up all can affect their tendency toward periodontal disease. You can improve your pet's dental status by feeding dry pet food supplemented with Enzadent treats (Milkbones have been proven to be ineffective.) There are now even special diets such as Hills T/D which reduce tartar build-up. We also carry a line of products which you can use to keep your pet's mouth healthier.
