Safety Tips & More
Plaque and tartar buildup can lead to a great deal more than bad breath – it can cause pain and dental disease, a serious condition that can affect your pet’s entire body. That’s because bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream, traveling to organs like the heart, liver and kidneys, causing distant or systemic effects. It can even cause death.
With proper and consistent dental care, however, these problems can be avoided.
What is proper dental care for pets?
Proper dental care involves a regimen of scheduled preventive care – the veterinary version of what people should undertake – which includes:
- A thorough dental exam including x-rays (usually annually for pets) and pre-operative bloodwork
- Regular teeth cleaning and polishing under sedation
- Extractions, as needed
- Home dental care to help keep your pet’s teeth and gums clean between visits
At Riverview Animal Clinic, we offer all these services, including guidance on home dental care techniques. An estimate can be provided at your pet's presurgical visit.