Rindge Pet Dental Services

The Importance of Dental Care for your Pet  •  Dental Services for your Pet  •  Home Dental Care

The Importance of Dental Care for your Pet

Good dental hygiene can increase your pet's health, vitality, and well-being – and add additional years to his or her life. Regular dental check-ups and teeth cleanings help your pet live the best life possible. If left untreated, dental disease not only causes pain and inhibits proper nutrition, but it can also lead to serious systemic issues that may threaten your pet's health before symptoms are noticeable. For example, oral bacteria that enter the bloodstream can damage your pet's kidneys, heart or liver. It is estimated that more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop tooth and gum disease by the age of three years.

Dental care is an important component of your dog or cat's preventive health care program. Proper dental care not only prevents dental and systemic disease, it also helps minimize the lifetime cost of care for your pet.

The veterinarians and medical team at Fieldstone Animal Hospital are concerned about the dental health of your pet. That is why we have completed multiple hours of continuing education and hands-on training in veterinary dentistry.

Dental Services for your Pet

Dr. Sawyer and her staff believe that the centerpiece of good dental care is a complete oral exam followed by a thorough cleaning. Dental cleanings include ultrasonic scaling followed by polishing and an antiseptic mouth rinse, the combination of which is designed to remove plaque and slow future buildup.

Your Pet’s Dental Cleaning includes:

• Oral examinations under anesthesia
• Diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease
• Supra and subgingival scaling
• Tooth extractions
• Polishing
• Irrigation
• Fluoride application

We are dedicated to educating you about the importance of your pet’s dental health. The home care products we offer are carefully researched and selected for optimum health benefits. Our dental technicians are well educated and highly trained in dentistry and we take great pride in the services we provide.

Home Pet Dental Care

Prevention is the best protection from periodontal disease.

Preventing periodontal disease by keeping your pet's teeth and gums healthy isn't just a job for your veterinarian; it's your job too. While nothing can take the place of regular visits to Fieldstone Animal Hospital for checkups and cleanings, ongoing follow-up oral care at home is critical for controlling plaque and tartar formation.

The goal of home dental care is to remove plaque before it mineralizes into calculus (tartar), a process that occurs within days of a teeth cleaning. Brushing your pet's teeth is the single most important procedure for maintaining good oral health. If performed regularly, brushing dramatically decreases the incidence of gingivitis and increases the interval between teeth cleaning appointments.

It is best to begin brushing your pet’s teeth when he or she is young, before the adult teeth erupt. The younger the animal, the more likely he or she is to accept it. Regular brushing not only keeps your pet's teeth clean and healthy, it also enhances the bond you share. If you are unsure about brushing techniques, please ask a staff member at Fieldstone Animal Hospital for instructions.  We are happy to instruct and/or demonstrate the easiest and most beneficial methods. Please ensure that you always use toothpaste specifically made for pets, not for people.

If brushing your pet's teeth is not possible, ask us to help you select the most effective dental products for your pet.

You should also be able to recognize the signs of poor oral health. If you notice any of the following, you should contact us and make a dental appointment for your pet:

Fieldstone Animal Hospital, 153 Hunt Hill Rd, Unit 2, Rindge, NH  03461   |  Ph: (603) 899-9535  |  Fax: (603) 899-9538