Pet Dental Care

If your pet has bad breath, it may mean there is a problem with their teeth and gums. This can also contribute to more severe medical conditions. If dental issues are left untreated, you may put your pet at risk for problems in their mouth (periodontitis) or with internal organs (heart disease). The challenge most pet owners face is that even if their pet’s breath smells fine, some dental issues are hard to spot.

You're a responsible pet owner - but do you keep a careful eye on your special companion's dental health? Pets can be burdened by dental problems and diseases just like humans.

Dental disease can be painful, inhibit proper nutrition, and lead to other serious systemic issues that may threaten your pet's overall health before symptoms are even noticeable. Regular dental check-ups at Heartland Animal Hospital, combined with good dental hygiene at home, can increase your pet's health, vitality, and well-being and help ensure the furry member of your family leads the best life possible.

Protecting Your Pet's Dental Health at Heartland Animal Hospital

Drs. Cuddihhee and St. Clair and their staff believe the foundation of good dental care begins with a complete oral exam, followed by a thorough cleaning designed to remove plaque and slow its buildup.

At our veterinary hospital, we provide dental care which includes:

Oral examinations under anesthesia
Diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease
Teeth cleanings, extraction and polishing

If we find any evidence of gum or tooth erosion, gingivitis, or excessive plaque buildup, we will discuss this with you and recommend treatment options for your pet.

Cobblestone Veterinary Hospital

In Between Cleanings: Dental Care at Home

By ensuring your pet receives annual dental exams, you can prevent serious dental problems from developing. In between visits to your veterinarian at Heartland Animal Hospital, check your pet's teeth regularly for signs of problems. Brushing your pet's teeth is the single most important procedure you can do to maintain good oral health. Brushing can dramatically decrease the incidence of gingivitis and can increase the interval between teeth cleaning appointments if done regularly.

If you are unsure of how to brush your pet's teeth, please ask a staff member for instructions. We are happy to help!

Signs of Pet Dental Problems

Symptoms of dental disease include:

Bad breath
Red and swollen gums
Pain or bleeding
Loose or missing teeth
Yellow-brown plaque crust on teeth, near the gum line
Decreased appetite or difficulty eating

We moved to Ashland late in 2000 and began using Heartland Animal Hospital in the spring of 2001. Dr. Cuddihee and her staff took the records of our pets from previous veterinarian’s office and used those to start providing treatment to our pets and building their own records. Fifteen years later, we are still sold on the services our pets receive. Dr. Cuddihee and her staff have celebrated our new pets with us and have been caring and empathetic when we’ve had to say goodbye to some very old friends. While it is difficult to talk about euthanasia of very special animal family members, it is important to me to say that the staff at Heartland have kept some of our pets happy and healthy longer than the breed books say they should live. They have been kind, respectful and caring of both of both the pet and us when the time has come to humanely euthanize the animal. Our dogs look forward to going to the vet’s office in Ashland (and know where the treats are). Our cats are tolerant of trips to the vet and rarely get their claws out (a four star review from a cat, believe me). Finally, I would like to make two points. Dr. Cuddihee will give you every option and scenario for treatment available (and the cost associated with it) but she allows you to make the decision of how to proceed. Second, I recently discovered the price of specialized dog food is less at her office than it is at the farm store in Columbia. So if you want great care and service, and reasonably priced pet products, go to Heartland.

Brooke Dawson, “Blackie”, “Critter”, “Etta”, “Smokey”, “Beau”, & “Gabe”