Are you too busy to brush your dog’s teeth?

You’ve been told you’re supposed to brush your dog’s teeth. Maybe you’ve even made some strides in that department, but at the end of the day (or week, or month), it’s not getting done. Here are some suggestions to help you be more successful: Put a picture of your dog (or your dog’s teeth, if… Read more

Feline Resorptive Lesions

External root resorption of teeth is one of the most common dental diseases of our feline patients.  Some reports state 50-70% of cats have resorptive lesions.  These “cat cavities” are called feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions based on the cells found lining these cavities that do not… Read more

October is Dental Month!

October is pet dental month.  During the month of October, a $30 discount will be applied to all dental procedures! What is a dental procedure and why does your pet need one?  Periodontal disease affects more than 80% of pets over three years old, and has been proven to shorten their… Read more

Anesthesia for dental procedures

When I inform a pet owner that I recommend a prophy, or teeth cleaning, I’m often asked, “Do you have to put him under anesthesia to do that?” But the REAL question they’re asking is, “Is it safe to put my pet under anesthesia?” If there’s one thing I could effectively convey to the general… Read more

Broken teeth–what should you do?

Earlier today, I examined a dog who had been adopted from a shelter. She was very sweet, albeit a little shy, and we could quickly see she’s a good snuggler. During my exam, I noticed some broken incisors and a broken canine tooth. Given her background, we’ll never know how she broke these… Read more

Dental Disease in Ferrets

Maintaining good dental health is very important in the pet ferret. Lack of good oral hygiene leads to plaque and subsequent tartar, which can trap bacteria resulting in gingivitis (gum inflammation) and with time infection of the tooth roots and loss of teeth. Additionally, bacteria from an… Read more

Periodontal Therapy (Prophy)

      It is very important for you to know that not all veterinary hospitals approach anesthesia and periodontal procedures in the same way.  Advancements in veterinary medicine have allowed these procedures to be much safer than ever before.  You can be confident that your pet… Read more

Prophy? What’s that?

A prophy is often called a “teeth cleaning,” but I’m afraid that description doesn’t quite do justice to what is included in a routine prophy. A better description is “periodontal therapy”, but even that may still leave you asking, “What?” During a prophy, the heavy layers of tartar and calculus… Read more