Pet Dental Care in High Point

Pets with proper dental hygiene live longer, healthier lives than those who don't receive dental care and develop periodontal disease.

Pets, just like humans, develop plaque daily. We brush the plaque off our teeth, but in our pets, that plaque accumulates to become a calcified wall of bacteria on their teeth. This is called tartar. Tartar leads to gingivitis, periodontal disease, and eventually loose or missing teeth. This can be painful and more importantly, leads to systemic diseases!

​We encourage preventive dental cleanings (just like in people) to prevent significant dental disease in dogs and cats.

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By age 3, 80% of pets already show dental disease

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Signs of Potential Dental Disease in Pets

Many pet owners know that bad breath can be a sign of dental issues. Other, less-known symptoms to look for include:

  • Yellow/brown residue along the gum line
  • Inflamed gums
  • Drooling excessively and often
  • Blood-tinged saliva
  • Pawing and rubbing at mouth
  • Unable to hold onto food
  • Irritability, sleeping more often, and not wanting to play

How Westchester Veterinary Hospital Diagnoses and Treats Dental Disease

Dental disease includes issues like swollen gums (also known as gingivitis) and loose teeth caused by infected gum tissue. These conditions leave pets uncomfortable, unable to eat properly, and at more at risk for heart, liver, and kidney disease.

To diagnose and treat dental disease, we take a thorough approach by conducting an oral exam to reveal the signs of dental disease.

If your pet needs to have their teeth cleaned, we:

  • Perform all dental procedures with your pet fully sedated. This allows us to examine your pet’s mouth, tooth by tooth, and look for anything abnormal without having to rush.
  • We remove plaque and tartar via scaling and polishing your pet's tooth enamel smooth. By removing buildup on the teeth, we’re also removing harmful bacteria during the dental procedure.
  • We will remove (or extract) any loose, decayed, or broken teeth to improve your pet's health and comfort.