pet dental care with tooth brush richmond vet clinic

Did you know?

Over 80% of dogs and cats over the age of 3 have dental disease.

Dental disease is the most prevalent disease in animals visiting general practice.

Book Dental Appointment

How is this different from my teeth and oral health?

The human standard of care asks us to brush twice daily, floss regularly and visit the dentist twice a year for routine cleanings. Despite your hard work, your dentist will usually still find some plaque hiding. Now think about your pet, have you been brushing once daily and had a routine annual dental cleaning? The risk of unaddressed dental disease in animals has been extensively documented and shows the mobilization of bacteria from the mouth into various organs in the body such as kidney, liver, heart, lungs and brain! We’re all animals, but some of us can’t brush or floss our own teeth, so let Little Paws help you care for your best friend’s oral hygiene.

Step #1 is Prevention

Essential preventative dental cleanings are required to keep your pets oral health free of PAIN & INFECTION. 

We maintain and procure the best dental equipment, so we can provide the best care for your best friend.

With DC technology, this machine allows constant radiation levels to ensure the most reliable image quality. Compared to other conventional units, it reduces the patient radiation dose by more than 25% to ensure the greatest safety measures for our patients and team.

This elite machine is regarded as the #1 in industry, with its high speed 360 degree swivel handpiece that allows for greater control by our team and quality completion of dental procedures.

Let’s get started!

Before

  1. A physical exam is performed by the Doctor several days before and the day of the procedure to ensure the physical fitness of your animal prior to the procedure. The doctor will provide you with the general safety category of your pet for undergoing an anesthetic and any relevant recommendations.
  2. Pre-anesthetic blood work is required a few days before the procedure to ensure your pet has adequate organ function to metabolize the medications needed for the procedure.
  3. An additional pre-anesthetic exam is performed by the Doctor on the day of the dental cleaning prior to any administration of medications.
  4. IV fluids are used prior, during and after the procedure to minimize any alterations in blood pressure, hydration and function of the kidneys during anesthesia which allows for a better recovery.

During

  1. General anesthesia is used by an inhaled gas and is generally quite safe when the proper precautions are taken (bloodwork, physical exam, IV fluids, monitoring). During the entire procedure, you have a dedicated nurse monitoring your animals vital signs to ensure the least amount of anesthetic is used to enable a smooth recovery.
  2. A thorough oral exam is performed, noting any abnormalities and taking dental x-rays as needed to determine the integrity of the tooth root under the gumline.
  3. Dental cleaning is performed with an ultrasonic scaler is used for precision removal of plaque and to minimize time under anesthetic. Hand scaling is performed under the gumline to remove dangerous plaque and tartar.
  4. Polishing is performed to smooth over any blemishes left by scaling where plaque would then form.

After

  1. Recovery – the most important part. Your animal is continuously supervised until they are fully awake and you will receive a phone call immediately after they recover.
  2. A detailed procedural report is provided, with specific homecare recommendations for ongoing maintenance and recovery. In your report, we also provide before/after pictures of the teeth to clients.

Healthy Teeth Leads to Healthy Life

Oral care is important to long term health of your pet.
Maintaining a routine visit for dental care is important in keeping your pet’s teeth healthy and prevent oral diseases.

Book A Dental Appointment