FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL PET DENTAL MONTH

Root canals, dental x-rays, orthodontics, crowns, caps, implants, and periodontal surgery for pets? You must be kidding! Not at all. Dental procedures are performed daily in veterinary practices and taking care of your pet’s teeth at home may be easier than you think. At Ash Veterinary Clinic, we want to make sure you know how to keep your furry family member’s teeth white, healthy and smelling great! Examination is the key to diagnosis and helps determine the health of your pet’s teeth and mouth. A pet owner can help by examining their pet’s teeth and oral cavity at least monthly. First, smell your dog’s or cat’s breath. If you sense a disagreeable odor, gum disease may be present. Periodontal disease is the most common ailment of small animals. Gum problems begin when bacteria accumulates at the gumline around the tooth. Unless brushed away daily the bacteria can destroy supporting bone, cause bleeding, and if untreated lead to tooth loss. Usually, the first sign is bad breath. When and if there is a dental issue, take a trip to see us for a complete exam. At Ash Veterinary Clinic, every patient receives a head to tail exam by the doctor every single visit. We also do complimentary exams on every patient during our vaccine clinic day, which is Wednesdays from 10-4. Sedation and anesthesia are essential for adequate evaluation and cleaning. We offer a wide array of safe and effective anesthetics. Our licensed technicians, or nurses, are the individuals who directly aid the doctor for all procedures that require anesthesia. When your pet is under anesthesia, your veterinarian will use a periodontal probe. Unfortunately by the time some pets come in for dental care, it is too late to save many of the teeth. Preventative care and periodic checkups should help slow down the loss of additional teeth. We will also take x-rays, if needed, of abnormal dental conditions. X-rays show the inside of the tooth, just like in humans, and below the gum line. Many diseases can only be diagnosed by x-rays, and then treatment is decided. Verify that your clinic doing the dental has the ability to perform dental x-rays if needed. When considering a dental procedure at any veterinary office, inquire about the practice standards so you know how educated and experienced the doctor and staff are with the procedure and anesthesia. Ask who is going to be monitoring anesthesia or cleaning and/or extracting teeth. Unfortunately, there is no law that prohibits unlicensed, non-schooled individuals from performing these tasks. All respectable hospitals ensure only licensed individuals or individuals directly supervised by the doctor are allowed to do dentals. It is NEVER acceptable in Michigan, and most other states, for ANYONE other than a doctor to extract teeth as it is considered a surgical procedure. Make sure your pet will have a pre-op blood screen, IV catheter and fluids as well. These are routine in the human world if anesthesia is used, but some try to cut cost and do not offer this for pets. You have every right to know, so just ask! A drastic difference in prices while shopping or a “too good to be true” dental price is a red flag. Please be aware that this is your family member’s life we are talking about. It is never worth sacrificing excellent medical care to save a dollar. Most often, it will cost more in the end. Since February is National Pet Dental Month, we offer a 10% DISCOUNT off ALLl dental cleanings scheduled for February, which makes it a 20% discount for those on a current wellness plan. Also, do not forget if you are price shopping this service, you really need to ask what exact services, itemized, are included in the quote. Schedule a dental today by calling 734-782-2827 or emailing us at ashvet2012@gmail.com. There are a limited number of procedures that can be done in February, so this is a first come, first serve scheduling. Don’t miss out on this chance to receive a dental discount!