Cat & Dog Teeth Cleaning in Mishawaka, IN
Your pet’s teeth matter, so much so that an unhealthy mouth can mean an unhealthy pet. Plaque and tartar buildup harbors bacteria that break down your pet’s teeth and can even leak into their bloodstream, causing damage to internal organs. Yet, dental disease and all its problems are entirely preventable with regular pet dental care.
At Lincolnway Veterinary Clinic, we offer cat and dog teeth cleaning services in Mishawaka, IN to keep your pet’s mouth healthy and to improve their overall well-being. Call us at (574) 256-1871 to schedule a teeth cleaning today.
Fight dental disease with routine teeth cleaning.
Schedule a visit for a dental evaluation.
Safety Protocols for Dental Cleanings
Since dental procedures require the use of general anesthesia, we use all the safety protocols that we normally use for surgery including:
- Pre-anesthetic blood work for a baseline of organ function, including liver and kidneys and to check for possible anemias or infections that may not be causing any symptoms.
- Thoracic (chest) radiographs to check for abnormalities in the heart and lungs such as heart disease, enlargement, or respiratory infection
- Veterinarian exam and medication administration before the procedure to reduce the use of anesthesia needed and ease the insertion of an IV catheter.
- Placement of IV catheter, induction and intubation in order to safely administer anesthesia or medication directly into a vein through the catheter. Induction and intubation are needed for the transition to gas anesthesia to ensure your pet remains asleep through the procedure.
- Vitals monitoring of your pet's oxygenation of the blood, respiration, heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, and body temperature.
Professional Cat & Dog Teeth Cleaning Mishawaka
Just like you, your pet needs regular dental check-ups throughout their lives. We perform a dental evaluation during every wellness exam to check for signs of disease. If we find anything that concerns us, we’ll recommend a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) to remove plaque and tartar buildup and slow or even reverse disease progression.
Our COHAT procedures include:
- Digital dental X-rays to check for signs of disease below the gum line including abscesses, tooth resorption, fractures, and retained roots. Nearly 80% of each tooth resides below the gum line, making X-rays essential.
- Comprehensive oral exam to check for periodontal pockets around the teeth and other dental issues
- Ultrasonic scaling of each tooth to remove plaque and tartar
- Polishing of each tooth to smooth the enamel and reduce future plaque buildup
- Dental extractions of damaged teeth if needed. Extractions are a last resort for teeth damaged beyond repair. We’ll suture the gum tissue to promote healing and also provide your pet with appropriate pain medication to manage any discomfort.
Pet Teeth Cleaning at Home
Professional cleanings alone are not enough to combat dental disease. Between cleanings, plaque and tartar can still develop and cause irreversible damage. Yet with routine pet dental care at home, you can help further stall the progress of disease. Dog and cat teeth cleaning options at home include:
- Brushing – Brushing your cat’s or dog’s teeth is the single most effective way to reduce plaque and tartar buildup. Training your cat or dog when they are young is the best way to get them to accept teeth brushing, but pets of any age can be trained with enough patience and determination!
- CET chews – These chews break up tartar and control plaque, giving your pet clean teeth and fresh breath.
- Water additives – Add these to your pet’s water bowl to help reduce plaque buildup.
- Prescription dental diets – An entire diet dedicated to dental health promotes oral hygiene with every bite.