What Every Pet Owner Should Know About Routine Dental Care | St Johns Veterinarian | Animal Medical Clinic
Unlike humans, most pets do not get the daily dental care that is required to prevent plaque from building up on the teeth. That’s why it’s so important to have your cat or dog’s teeth professionally cleaned according to the recommendations offered by your family veterinarian. Those guidelines typically vary according to a number of factors, including your pet’s age, the breed of the animal, the diet you feed, and more.

When you bring your pet in for a routine dental cleaning, you can expect an early drop off and an easy, one-day stay here at our clinic. Most routine dental cleanings are performed on an outpatient basis, and the only reason for the stay is that anesthesia is administered in order to make the procedure as simple and comfortable for your pet as possible. We always monitor anesthetized patients as they wake up in order to ensure your pet’s continued health and safety.

You will be given detailed discharge instructions when you pick your pet up from his or her routine dental cleaning. These instructions also vary from one pet to the next, based on things like the condition of your pet’s teeth and gums and whether any extractions were performed that day. In most cases, it is fine to resume your normal feeding routines within 24 to 28 hours, but please be sure to follow the personalized instructions that are given to you.

The time between professional dental cleanings can be significantly extended with diligent dental care at home. Just by brushing your pet’s teeth two to three times per week, you can significantly reduce his or her risk of developing most forms of dental disease. If you have tried brushing your pet’s teeth at home with no luck, you may also want to consider asking your family veterinarian for diet recommendations. There are several tartar control pet foods available today that will help keep your pet’s teeth and gums in tip-top shape.

Are you concerned about your pet’s oral health? If so, contact us today to request a consultation and oral health exam with one of our highly skilled veterinarians!