A Keystone of Health

Dental care for dogs and cats.

Your pet’s dental health directly affects their quality of life. Dental disease (i.e., periodontal disease) is a preventable but widespread condition in pets, affecting more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats by 3 years of age. Small dogs and brachycephalic breeds (e.g., pugs, French bulldogs) are at a higher risk because of their small mouths and overcrowded teeth.

This painful inflammatory disease establishes itself below the gumline, where bacteria from plaque and tartar accumulate and attack vulnerable tooth roots, surrounding structures, and bone. As the disease progresses, pets may experience intense pain from gingivitis, infection, bone loss, and broken teeth. Late-stage dental disease extends beyond the pet’s oral cavity, as overwhelming bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream and damage the heart, kidneys, lungs, and liver.

Dentistry

Identifying dental disease in pets

Despite pain and disease, the visible portion of the tooth (i.e., the crown) can look relatively normal, and many dogs and cats will show no pain or distress. In fact, a dog or cat’s self-preservation instincts often mean they will continue to eat hard food despite severe periodontal disease. Therefore, pet owners must closely monitor their pet’s dental health and schedule an appointment for subtle changes in behavior or appearance including:

Bad breath
Slow eating or dropping food
Drooling
Pawing at the mouth
Reluctance to chew on toys or treats
Visibly broken, discolored, or dirty teeth
Bleeding gums, or blood on toys or in the water bowl
Reduced appetite
Facial swelling, particularly around the muzzle or under the eye

Bottom Title

At North Waterloo Veterinary Hospital, we pride ourselves on our commitment to safe anaesthesia, using advanced techniques, proven protocols, and extensive patient monitoring to ensure a safe experience for your pet. Because no two pets are alike, each patient receives an individualized anaesthestic plan that is customized to their age, breed, species, procedure, and individual health needs, to achieve an effective balance between appropriate sedation and pain control.

If your pet’s mouth shows dental disease or your pet is of an age or breed that is prone to dental disease, a COHAT (comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment) under anesthesia will be recommended. Each dental cleaning is performed in our dedicated dental suite and includes safe and customized anesthesia to ensure a relaxed and pain-free experience for your pet. Our comprehensive dental cleaning includes:

Full-mouth dental X-rays— X-rays allow us to identify pathology below the gumline including broken teeth, bone or root erosion, infection, and cancer.
Dental scaling and polishing — We use an ultrasonic scaler to safely remove tartar and flush plaque from above and below the gum line.
Oral cavity exam and dental charting — Each tooth is individually evaluated and mapped.
Necessary dental extractions and therapeutic treatments — Suspicious or damaged teeth are surgically removed. Vulnerable teeth are treated therapeutically to reverse early periodontal disease.
Pain management— Local nerve blocks and pre- and post-operative pain medications are used for painful procedures.
Personalized home care plan — Based on your pet’s treatment, we’ll design a care plan to preserve their newly restored dental health.

Veterinary dentistry services

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