Did you know taking care of your pet's oral health is just as important for them as it is for you? That's why the veterinary Professionals at Aliso Beach Animal Clinic in Laguna Beach recommend regular pet dental care on top of a daily care routine. This helps to avoid bad breath and identify problems quickly, so they can be treated before they get worse. Following are the answers to several questions we frequently receive about pet dental care.

Does My Pet Need to Have Regular Checkups?

Bringing your pet in to have a dental cleaning once per year is recommended to maintain proper oral health. If left unchecked, simple plaque buildup on teeth could turn into gingivitis or periodontal disease, which is much more time-consuming and expensive to treat. You can prevent this with routine teeth brushing at home and providing food and treats that encourage good oral health. Of course, even with your best efforts, plaque is likely to build up on your pet's teeth, so don't hesitate to make an appointment if it's been a year or longer since your pet last had a cleaning.

Are There Alternatives to Extracting Teeth?

When possible, we prefer to save the damaged tooth instead of extracting it during surgery. Depending on the issue and how severe it is, we may be able to provide your pet with a root canal or crown to save broken or abscessed teeth. If your pet is suffering from advanced periodontal disease, we may recommend gum or tissue regeneration surgery. If a previous veterinarian has suggested extraction, give us a call for a second opinion before moving forward with the treatment plan.

Is My Pet too Old for Anesthesia?

Your pet's age is not the determining factor for whether or not we will administer anesthesia. Rather, we take your pet's health status into account and place higher importance on this. Of course, many issues tend to happen to senior pets that may make anesthesia a poor decision, but this is because of health concerns, not the pet's age. For example, dogs with liver failure should not receive anesthesia because it can cause uncontrollable blood pressure drops.

Schedule an Appointment with our Veterinarian for Pet Dental Care in Laguna Beach

Call Aliso Beach Animal Clinic today at (949) 499-4190 for more information or to schedule an appointment with our veterinariain.