Dog Dental Care

At Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital, we believe a healthy mouth means a healthy dog! We are passionate about educating you on dental disease and understanding the severity of tartar build up. An infection in your dog’s mouth is painful and must be treated immediately because infections can harm your dog’s immune system and organs such as the heart. Bad breath, red/bleeding gums, and swelling to the face are just a few signs of dental disease. At Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital we provide a full range of dental care services to help your dog live a long, healthy, pain-free life. Please contact us for information on caring for your dog’s mouth.

What types of dental care for dogs do you offer at your clinic?

At Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital, we offer a wide range of dental services to care for your dog’s teeth. A dental cleaning including polishing and scaling is performed under anesthetic which ensures all their teeth are carefully examined to check for pockets that can cause future problems. They are placed on intravenous fluids to maintain their blood pressure while under anesthetic and keeps them hydrated from fasting, they are monitored by a Registered Veterinary Technologist from the beginning of the surgery until they go home. If teeth are extracted they are given pain medication while in the clinic and to go home to keep them comfortable while they are recovering. We are equipped with digital dental x-rays which look at the roots of your dog’s teeth. X-rays can help us identify abscessing roots, infected bone and even baby teeth that have not erupted yet. If any teeth are damaged, infected or fractured we extract them! Capping, pulpectomy, and root canals are all options available and we would choose the best treatment for your dog. Please contact Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital to inquire about a dental examination for your dog.

How often should you brush your dog’s teeth?

Just like people, dogs need their teeth brushed. While your dog’s mouth is different than ours, the need for dental care is still very important. It is best to start brushing your dog’s teeth as a puppy and this ritual can become routine and an enjoyable bonding opportunity. Brushing your dog’s teeth should be done daily with pet toothpaste; human toothpaste is toxic to your dog. Brachycephalic (short-nosed dogs) and dogs with underbites or misaligned teeth are prone to dental disease so start brushing now. Contact Lomsnes Veterinary Hospital and we will demonstrate how to brush your dog’s teeth and provide you with appropriate toothbrushes for your dog’s mouth.

Why is oral and dental health important?

A healthy mouth ensures a healthy dog! Dental disease causes infection to the gums, teeth and even the bone around the teeth. Bad breath is not normal! An infection in the mouth releases bacteria to the rest of the body leading to serious health concerns like weight loss, depression, compromised immune system and can even damage organs. To help you keep your dog’s teeth clean and healthy we recommend brushing your dog’s teeth with a pet toothpaste, feed veterinary approved dental diets, provide treats such as specific dental bones and chews and if any tartar or infections are present, a professional dental cleaning and polishing under anesthetic are needed. Unfortunately, dental disease is often overlooked and even with infected teeth, dogs will continue to eat.