Pet Dental Care
We’re dedicated to providing exceptional pet dental care beyond routine check-ups. Our mission is to ensure your pet’s smile radiates health and happiness.
Welcome to Gulfshore Animal Hospital:
Where Pet Smiles Shine Bright
At Gulfshore Animal Hospital, good dental care is essential for your pet’s oral health, but poor dental hygiene can also lead to more serious health issues, such as kidney and heart disease.
Did you know that 85% of dogs and 70% of cats already have periodontal disease by age 3? And just by preventing periodontal disease, your pet can live a longer, healthier life. Common signs of periodontal disease are bad breath, excessive drooling, broken teeth, reluctance to eat or play with toys, and pawing or rubbing of the face. Sneezing and even eye infections can be simply related to poor oral health. Periodontal disease can lead to tooth decay and gingival infections, spreading bacteria through the bloodstream and eventually damaging major organs.
Proper dental care begins with an oral exam and dental scoring by your veterinarian; then, a home dental program should be instituted. Your veterinarian will stage your pet’s teeth:
Stage 1
Red, swollen gums, plaque on teeth.
Stage 2
Bad breath, plaque, and calculus on teeth, reversible damage.
Stage 3
Severe plaque and calculus accumulation, bleeding gums, bad breath, and permanent damage.
Stage 4
Gingivitis, bleeding gums, pus, bad breath, tooth root exposure, loss, and permanent damage.
Dental Do’s and Don’ts:
- Do begin brushing with a pet toothpaste with your finger, or using a pet finger toothbrush, to get your pet used to having something in his mouth before working up to a toothbrush specially made for pets.
- Do try to perform dental home care; once daily is best. Brushing is preferred, but on days you cannot brush, give a dental chew.
- Don’t use human toothpaste on your pet.
- Don’t attempt to clean the inner surface of your pet’s teeth. Your pet’s tongue and saliva clean this surface on its own.
- Don’t consider dental home care an alternative to full dental cleaning if your pet has more advanced dental disease. Even a Stage 1 dental score needs professional veterinary care to return your pet’s teeth to a healthy condition.