The Importance of Routine Pet Dental Care in St. Paul, MN

If you’ve ever had to wait on a dentist to fix a tooth problem, you know how frustrating it can be and how important it is to resolve issues before they become serious. It’s no different for animals. That’s why Highland Animal Hospital offers pet dental care in St. Paul, MN, to relieve them of the pains of dental disease.

The first step to fighting decay and damage is recognizing when they appear in your pets. Some of the most obvious red flags are bad breath, tartar on teeth, and reddened gums, but there are more subtle signs. Has your dog or cat changed their eating habits? That could be a sign of discomfort. Find out for sure by consulting one of our pet dentists and oral hygiene experts.

Preventive Care Saves Money, Time, and Trouble

Though it’s vital to address emergencies that leave your pet suffering or unable to eat, the best way to meet their oral health needs is with regular dental maintenance. Doing so allows us to catch issues early, keeping potential disease or damage from spreading.

Our pet dental cleaning service can lead to longer, healthier lives. Make oral oversight part of your pet’s wellness routine, and you’ll minimize the risk of infections and other problems.

Inside the Clinic:

Annual dental cleanings (Dental Prophylaxis) are recommended on an annual basis to prevent tooth decay, gum diseases, and avoidable extractions. One of the most noticeable things that regular dental cleanings do is keep your pet’s mouth pain-free. Dogs and cats frequently show signs of oral pain when it becomes uncomfortable to eat, drink, or chew on toys, bones, or treats. Other common signs of dental issues include foul breath and visible tooth abscesses. If these signs are shown in your pet, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a dental consultation.

In addition to preventing oral discomfort, routine cleanings can prevent whole-body issues such as heart, liver, and kidney disease along with anorexia, and lethargy. A build-up of dental plaque and its associated bacteria can cross into the bloodstream leading to larger problems like these down the road if not managed early on.

Because we feel so strongly that pets should get a dental cleaning annually, we do offer a 10% discount if done within 18 months of their last cleaning at our clinic, so please don’t wait for dental plaque to build up and cause future problems when it can be easily prevented.

Oravet: A daily dental chew that uses a manual scrubbing action to scrape tarter and uses delmopinol to block the development of plaque and tarter.

At Home:

In between cleanings, a lot can be done on your part at home when it comes to maintaining good oral health in your pet. We highly recommend routine teeth brushing every night with your dog or cat to prevent dental tartar. If you’re new to brushing your pet’s teeth, you can always start with just your finger with a little bit of toothpaste and slowly work your way up to a toothbrush once you and your pet get accustomed.

In addition to regular teeth brushing, dental treats and food are great ways to supplement your dog’s oral health. Two products that we recommend and carry in our clinic for this are Oravet and Hill’s T/D dry food.

T/D: has a larger fiber matrix that reduces crumbling and created a mechanical action that scrubs the teeth of plaque. Can be given as a complete diet or used as a supplement or training treats!

More than Just Cleanings

As important as it is, however, even the most vigilant owner can’t always rely on preventive care. That’s why we offer a range of treatments to ensure dogs and cats have the solutions they need to live their best lives. Some of our many services are:

Dental X-Rays

Tooth Extraction

Pet Periodontal Treatment

No matter what’s causing the issue, our compassionate team does everything in our power to deliver relief—both for you and your beloved animal. Bring your furry friend in for comprehensive pet exams with a holistic approach to pet health.