Dental Care

Veterinarian Dental Care

Dental care is a key component of your pet's overall health and wellness. Your cat and dog's teeth and gums, just like yours, are important but delicate parts of their body. Just like humans, pets need preventative care, routine cleaning, and regular dental check-ups to keep them in good shape. Cats and dogs who don't undergo the right dental care from a veterinarian risk suffering from plaque build-up, cavities, gum disease, and potentially the premature loss of teeth. The Clay-Chalkville Animal Clinic located just outside of Clay provides dental check-ups for your furry friends. These check-ups are one of the best things you can do to ensure your pet stays healthy from nose to tail. 

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The Benefits of a Professional Dental Cleaning

During a professional dental cleaning, your pet's veterinarian will use state-of-the-art tools to remove visible plaque and tartar on the teeth and get out any lingering bacteria beneath the gums. Dental cleaning is most effective when scheduled on a regular basis either once or twice a year. In addition to removing visible plaque and tartar, scheduling such routine dental cleanings can help with the following issues:

  • Reduce and even eliminate bad breath
  • Relieve pain associated with chewing
  • Reduce drooling
  • Provide early detection of any dental diseases

On this last point, regular dental check-ups are one of the best ways to have your vet check for more serious underlying conditions. Often, symptoms in the teeth and gums can be symptoms of other, more serious health problems.

Knowing When to Schedule a Pet Dental Cleaning

While we recommend scheduling an annual dental cleaning to best ensure that our veterinarian team catches small issues before they become big ones, sometimes situations may arise where you need a dental visit sooner rather than later. The following is a look at the common symptoms that are concerning and could indicate that it's time to have your pet's teeth checked out by a professional:

  • Excessively bad breath
  • Bleeding or swelling in or around the mouth
  • Discolored, broken, or loose teeth
  • Extra teeth or baby teeth that have not fallen out

At-Home Dental Care With Regular Dental Check-Ups

In addition to having your veterinarian regularly perform dental care check-ups, there are some things you can do at home to ensure your pet's teeth and gums stay healthy. First off, keep your pet away from any dangerous items, for example, antlers and sticks both pose risks to your dog's dental health. Next, the best active thing any pet owner can do for their pet's dental care is to regularly brush their pet's teeth, just make sure to use a pet-approved toothpaste when brushing and not human toothpaste as some ingredients in human toothpaste can be harmful to pets.

Is it time for a Cleaning?

For more information or to schedule a dental cleaning for your pet, contact Clay-Chalkville Animal Clinic today at (205) 681-1700. Let our experts provide your pet’s dental care to ensure they stay smiling for many years to come.

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Office Hours

Walk-ins are welcomed, but will have to wait until appointments scheduled at that time are seen.

Our Regular Hours

Monday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

7:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

7:00 am-12:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed