Dog Dental Care
The doctor will do a nose-to-tail exam, including checking those teeth. We’re doing a full-picture exam at those health exams.
How Often Should My Dog Get A Dental Exam?
This one’s pretty easy because the answer is that at every annual wellness checkup. The doctor will do a nose-to-tail exam, including checking those teeth. The doctor’s going to look for any broken teeth, any obvious inflammation of the gums, or any lumps or bumps in the mouth, and they will take into consideration if you bring up any other symptoms at home that might be a sign of any dental pain. We’re doing a full-picture exam at those health exams.
How Do I Know If My Dog’s Teeth Are Causing Them Pain?
It can be anything from super obvious to extremely subtle and non-existent signs. Some of the obvious ones are any swelling of the mouth, puffiness around the muzzle, drooling, excessively dropping food when they eat if they hadn’t done that previously, reluctance to chew on their favorite toys or foods, and any pawing at the mouth. So if you notice those things, they are all signs of dental distress in the mouth and need to be seen by a veterinarian to get scheduled for that dental appointment.
Will Dental X-Rays Be Involved?
I’m excited to say yes. At Leo’s Pet Care, we finally have that beautiful dental x-ray machine, so now we can do full radiographs of every dental patient that comes in. We are checking the roots, checking for signs of cancer, and any resorbed two teeth. That is an all-over round of dental health that we’re checking during that appointment. If you have more questions about what is involved with x-rays, please let us know because we’re very excited to be able to offer that value to everybody.
If My Dog Needs Extractions, Will He Be Given Pain Medications?
This is a big old yes. We want them to be comfortable. We have several different medications to choose from that we gear to your pet after surgery, so you can rest assured that if it’s appropriate for your pet to go home with pain medications, they will be sent home with them. We want them to be comfortable, as I’m sure you do too.
If you still have other questions and you’d like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (317) 721-7387, or you can email us at info@leospetcare.com. But please do reach out, and we’ll get back to you as fast as we can. Don’t forget to follow us on social media https://www.facebook.com/leospetcare, https://www.instagram.com/indianapolis_vet/
Is There Anything I Can Do To Help Prepare My Dog For Their Dental Exam?
The best you can do is follow the instructions before the procedure. They are going under anesthesia, so you will get instructions on what to do the night before the appointment, such as withholding food (no food after 10 o’clock at night). They come in on an empty stomach, but a little bit of water is okay, and I’m sure your pet is going to appreciate that. Otherwise, the only thing you can do to prepare is to take a breath and relax and know that they are in good hands. You’re on your way to getting them to a healthier mouth.
How Long Does A Dog Dental Cleaning Appointment Last?
The procedure itself varies depending on the condition of your pet’s teeth or any complications in the mouth. However, the general rule is you drop off your pet to us from eight to 8:30 in the morning, and then pick-up is usually after three. Again, we individualize this by every pet. The goal is we want them to be standing and walking and wagging their tail, ready to go home. If some pets need a little bit longer after medication, that’s okay. We’re going to let them call the shots for this appointment.
