February is National Pet Dental Health Month!

What is involved in a dental cleaning?

Unlike humans, dogs and cats would not sit still for a dental cleaning and would need to be put under general anesthetic. Your pet’s health will be evaluated before being put under anesthesia. Preanesthetic blood work and IV fluids are usually recommended by the veterinarian. The procedure itself involves a thorough examination of the mouth, teeth, and gums by the veterinary technician (VT).

The VT is responsible for the cleaning. The cleaning includes scaling (removing plaque and tartar from the teeth, both above and below the gum line), polishing, and antibacterial rinses and/or fluoride treatments. Sometimes a tooth cannot be saved and needs to be extracted (removed) by the veterinarian. After the dental procedure, your pet may require antibiotics to be sent home and/or analgesics (pain killers).