Dentistry
KEEP YOUR PET’S SMILE & TEETH HEALTHY
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Healthy Mouths, Happy Pets
Your pet depends on you for everything, including a healthy smile. At our hospital, we believe veterinary dental care is essential to your pet’s overall health and well-being, and it is just as important as vaccinations, nutrition, and routine checkups.
THE REASON WHY
Your Pet’s Dental Health Matters
Dental disease isn’t just about bad breath. It starts with plaque and tartar buildup, which leads to inflamed gums, infections, and eventually tooth loss. Left untreated, bacteria from the mouth can travel through the bloodstream, causing damage to your pet’s heart, liver, kidneys, and lungs. In severe cases, these infections can become life-threatening.
These complications can affect any pet, but dental infections are especially common in dogs and cats, making regular checkups and cleanings vital for their long-term health.
Unfortunately, it’s often one of the most overlooked aspects of veterinary care. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, over 80% of dogs and 70% of cats show signs of dental disease by age 3. Periodontal disease in pets is the most common clinical condition affecting adult pets, and it progresses quietly, often without apparent symptoms.
Common Signs of Dental Disease in Horses
Behavioral, performance, and feeding changes are often the earliest indicators of dental discomfort in horses. Signs may include:
- Dropping feed or quidding (spitting out partially chewed hay or forage)
- Weight loss or difficulty maintaining condition
- Foul odor from the mouth
- Excessive salivation
- Resistance to the bit or head tossing
- Difficulty chewing hay or forage
- One-sided nasal discharge
- Swelling along the jaw or face
- Behavioral or performance changes under saddle
Because horses have continuously erupting teeth, routine dental maintenance is important for preventing painful enamel points and uneven wear patterns.
Common Signs of Dental Disease in Farm Animals
Dental disease in farm animals can affect feed efficiency, body condition, and production long before visible signs become obvious.
Signs may include:
- Gradual weight loss or failure to maintain condition
- Difficulty chewing forage or hay
- Reduced cud-chewing activity
- Dropping feed while eating
- Excessive salivation
- Poor body condition
- Loose, worn, or missing teeth
- Reduced milk production
- Difficulty maintaining weight
Routine evaluations are especially important in aging animals, breeding animals, and animals experiencing unexplained weight or production changes.
Dental Exams for Large Animals
Routine dental examinations are an important part of maintaining the health, comfort, and performance of horses and other large animals. During a dental exam, our veterinary team evaluates the teeth, gums, bite alignment, and overall oral health to identify concerns such as uneven wear, sharp points, periodontal disease, infections, or other abnormalities.
Early detection of dental issues can help prevent pain, improve chewing efficiency, support proper nutrition, reduce feed waste, and promote overall well-being. Regular dental evaluations also allow for personalized recommendations and long-term care planning to help keep your animal healthy and comfortable throughout every stage of life.
Dental Floating for Horses
Dental floating is one of the most common routine dental procedures performed in horses. As horses chew in a side-to-side grinding motion, sharp enamel points naturally develop over time. These points can irritate the cheeks and tongue, reduce chewing efficiency, and contribute to discomfort, weight loss, and performance issues.
Routine floating helps smooth sharp enamel points, improve chewing function, and address uneven wear patterns when appropriate. Regular dental care can also improve comfort during riding and help reduce performance-related resistance associated with oral pain.
Most horses benefit from annual dental evaluation and floating, although younger and older horses may require more frequent monitoring depending on their dental condition.
Dental X-Rays for Large Animals
Dental radiographs, or dental X-rays, allow veterinarians to evaluate structures beneath the gumline that cannot be fully assessed during a routine oral examination. Digital dental imaging helps identify issues involving tooth roots, bone structures, fractures, abscesses, infection, and periodontal disease.
Dental X-rays may be recommended for:
- Fractured or damaged teeth
- Facial swelling
- Draining tracts or abscesses
- Loose teeth
- Suspected tooth root infection
- Chronic nasal discharge
- Unexplained oral pain or chewing difficulty
- Advanced periodontal disease
Digital imaging provides detailed diagnostic information that helps guide treatment planning and determine whether procedures such as extraction or advanced dental treatment are necessary.
Common Signs of Dental Disease in Dogs & Cats
Your pet may not be able to tell you they’re in pain, but there are signs you can look for, including:
- Yellow or brown tartar buildup on the teeth.
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums.
- Persistent bad breath.
- Drooling more than usual.
- Difficulty chewing or dropping food.
- Pawing at the mouth or face.
- Loose or missing teeth.
- Changes in behavior, such as fatigue or irritability.
Even if your pet seems fine, dental disease can progress silently. That’s why regular dental exams are so important.
What Veterinary Dental Services Do We Offer?
We offer a full range of pet dental care services to detect, treat, and prevent oral disease:
- Comprehensive oral exams
- Professional dental cleanings under anesthesia
- Dental X-rays to assess tooth and root health
- Tooth extractions (if necessary)
- Treatment for periodontal disease and oral infections
- At-home care guidance and product recommendations
We perform every dental procedure with your pet’s safety and comfort as our top priority.
What Veterinary Dental Services Do We Offer?
We offer a full range of pet dental care services to detect, treat, and prevent oral disease:
- Comprehensive oral exams
- Professional dental cleanings under anesthesia
- Tooth extractions (if necessary)
- Treatment for periodontal disease and oral infections
- At-home care guidance and product recommendations
We perform every dental procedure with your pet’s safety and comfort as our top priority.
Protect Their Teeth, Protect Their Health
Prevention Is the Best Medicine
Regular dental care—both at home and in the clinic—is the best way to prevent disease and avoid costly procedures down the road. Bacteria and food debris naturally accumulate around the teeth, and without regular cleanings, they can cause irreversible damage to the soft tissue and bone.
We recommend a professional dental exam and cleaning at least once a year, or more frequently if your pet is prone to dental issues. When your pet’s mouth is healthy, they eat better, feel better, and stay more active. You’ll notice the difference in their energy and behavior, often within days of treatment.
FAQs
Why Does My Pet Need Routine Dental Care?
Pets need routine dental care to prevent plaque buildup, gum disease, and tooth loss, which can lead to pain and other health issues. Regular cleanings help maintain their overall health and keep their breath fresh.
How Often Should My Pet Have a Dental Exam?
Your pet should have a dental exam at least once to twice a year, though some pets may need more frequent checkups depending on their age, breed, and dental health.
How Often Should My Pet Get a Dental Cleaning?
Most pets should have a dental cleaning once a year, but some may need cleanings more often depending on their breed, age, and individual dental health. Our team will recommend the best schedule for your pet.
What Are Signs of Dental Disease in Pets?
Signs of dental disease in pets include bad breath, yellow or brown buildup on teeth, red or bleeding gums, difficulty eating, pawing at the mouth, and drooling. In more advanced cases, you may notice loose teeth or swelling around the face or mouth.
How Do I Know if My Pet Needs a Tooth Pulled?
Your veterinarian can determine if your pet needs a tooth extracted based on signs like loose or broken teeth, infection, severe gum disease, or pain during eating. Imaging (if applicable) and a thorough dental exam help assess the tooth’s condition and guide the decision.
Can Bad Teeth Affect My Pet’s Overall Health?
Yes, bad teeth can affect your pet’s overall health—dental disease can lead to pain, difficulty eating, and infections that may spread to vital organs like the heart, liver, or kidneys.
Why Do Horses and Farm Animals Need Routine Dental Care?
Dental disease can affect chewing efficiency, feed intake, comfort, body condition, performance, and production. Routine examinations help identify problems before they become more advanced.
How Often Should My Large Animal Have a Dental Exam?
Most adult horses and farm animals should receive a dental evaluation annually. Younger, aging, or high-risk animals may benefit from more frequent monitoring depending on their condition.
How Often Does My Horse Need a Dental Float?
Many horses benefit from annual floating, although some may require more frequent care based on tooth alignment, wear patterns, and individual dental health.
Does My Horse Need Sedation for Dental Procedures?
Yes. Sedation of a full-mouth speculum allows for a safer and more thorough dental examination and treatment while reducing stress for the horse and improving safety for handlers and veterinary staff.
What Are Signs of Dental Disease in Farm Animals?
Signs may include weight loss, difficulty chewing forage, reduced cud chewing, dropping feed, excessive salivation, poor body condition, loose teeth, or decreased production.
How Do Veterinarians Determine If a Tooth Needs Extraction?
Extractions may be recommended when teeth are fractured, severely diseased, infected, abscessed, loose, or no longer functional. Examination findings and dental imaging help guide treatment decisions.
Can Dental Disease Affect Performance and Production?
Yes. Dental disease can interfere with feed processing, body condition, comfort, milk production, growth, and athletic performance depending on the species and severity of disease.
Why Are Dental X-Rays Important?
Dental X-rays allow veterinarians to evaluate structures beneath the gumline and identify conditions such as root infection, fractures, abscesses, bone loss, and periodontal disease that may not be visible during a standard examination.
Did You Know?
We Offer Flexible Payment Options
We believe every pet deserves top-notch care—and that cost shouldn’t stand in the way. That’s why we offer flexible payment options to help you plan and pay for your pet’s care with confidence. Click the button below to learn more about how we handle payments and pet insurance at our hospital.
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