Dental Care:

Within hours of your pet eating a meal, plaque has begun to build up on their teeth, just like it does on yours. If not removed the plaque begins to mineralize into tartar.

Tartar buildup leads to increased bacteria which causes periodontal disease along the gumline, which in turn causes constant pain for your pet, and can lead to heart, liver and kidney disease, shortening your pet’s life.

Dental disease is one of the most common ailments we see in pets that come into our practice. We estimate that 50-75% of “healthy” pets that come through our doors for annual checkups have some level of periodontal disease. VetCare Montana offers the latest dental care for your pet. We will give your pet a thorough oral exam and perform an ultrasonic scaling and polishing. We can also take x-rays of any potential problem teeth.

Dental radiography is an invaluable tool in veterinary dentistry. Without it, numerous problems below the gumline would go undiagnosed. Dental radiographs should be performed periodically on all animals regardless of their periodontal health.

Dental radiographs allow the doctor to see the other half of the tooth, and the underlying bone structure. Many problems can be detected early, and extractions possibly avoided when radiographs are taken.

Just “flip the lip” on your pet and look at his/her teeth. Do they have yellow or brown discolored teeth? Red inflamed gums? Loose or missing teeth? Are they reluctant to play or chew toys? Do they have bad breath? These are all signs and symptoms of periodontal disease.

If your pet has any of these symptoms you need to call the hospital (883-3456) for an appointment for a preliminary exam. We’ll take a look at your pet and provide you with a treatment plan for a full dental scaling and polishing along with any other care that may be needed.