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Dental care for dogs and cats

You brush, floss, and use mouthwash every day to keep your mouth healthy, but your pet can’t do the same for themselves. Bad breath isn’t normal for our pets, and it’s certainly not a sign of a healthy mouth. Cats and dogs need routine dental care to prevent plaque buildup and gum disease, a common condition in which tartar creeps below the gum line and causes serious damage to the teeth and gums. That’s why cat and dog teeth cleaning is an essential service at Town & Country Animal Hospital in Fairfax.

Our Dental Services

We offer a complete range of pet dental care services to keep your pet’s teeth and gums healthy throughout their life. This includes:

• Oral Exams
• Dental Cleanings
• Polishing
• Fluoride-infused polish to strengthen enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity
• Digital Dental X-rays
• Dental chews, treats, and other supplements (for chronic oral issues)

Our Pet Dental Package

To encourage owners to maintain a routine dental care regime for their pets, we also offer a dental package. This covers:

• The oral exam
• IV fluids during cleaning
• Scaling and polishing with ultrasonic scaler and high-speed polisher
• Daytime hospitalization
• Monitoring by technicians

Dental X-rays, extractions, and additional services are not included in this package.

Why Pets Need Routine Dental Care

Gum disease affects a large number of cats and dogs, and can be seen in pets as young as 3 years old. Gum disease occurs when plaque and tartar harden into calculus that spreads below the gum line, causing damage to the teeth, gums, and bone. In a worst-case scenario, the bacteria from the calculus can enter the bloodstream and affect your pet’s internal organs.

Symptoms of gum disease include:

Gum disease can easily be prevented with proper dental care and yearly cleanings. Brushing your pet’s teeth at home twice daily is ideal, and you should start the process as early in their life as possible. We would be glad to help you if you’re having any trouble, and can recommend other oral care products to supplement their dental routine.

If your canine or feline family member is showing early or moderate signs of gum disease, contact our veterinarian at (703) 273-2110 so we can halt its progress and provide your loved one with the clean, healthy mouth they deserve.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Dental Care

How do I know if my dog or cat needs a dental cleaning?
Bad breath is the most common sign, but also watch for yellow or brown buildup on teeth, red or swollen gums, difficulty chewing, or pawing at the mouth. Many pets show no obvious signs even when dental disease is progressing. Annual exams let us catch it early.

Is it safe to put my pet under anesthesia for a dental cleaning?
Yes. We perform pre-anesthetic bloodwork and monitor your pet closely throughout the procedure. Anesthesia is required for a thorough, safe cleaning since pets cannot stay still for scaling and probing the way humans can. Our team follows strict safety protocols to keep the risk as low as possible.

How often does my pet need a dental cleaning?
Most dogs and cats benefit from a professional cleaning once a year, though some breeds or individuals may need more frequent care. Daily brushing at home and dental chews can help slow tartar buildup between visits.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pet Dental Care

How common is dental disease in dogs and cats?
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems we see. By age three, the majority of dogs and cats have some degree of periodontal disease. Most pets do not show obvious pain, which is why it often goes undetected until it is well advanced. Bad breath is usually the first sign owners notice, but by that point bacteria have typically been damaging the gums and teeth for some time.

Does my pet really need to be under anesthesia for a dental cleaning?
Yes. Anesthesia-free dental cleanings remove visible tartar from the tooth surface but cannot address what is happening below the gumline, which is where the most damaging disease occurs. A proper cleaning requires full mouth X-rays, probing each tooth, and cleaning under the gumline. None of that is possible in an awake, moving animal. We take anesthesia safety seriously and use pre-anesthetic bloodwork and continuous monitoring throughout the procedure.

How often does my pet need a dental cleaning?
It depends on the individual animal. Some pets need annual cleanings, others every two years. Smaller breeds and flat-faced breeds tend to have worse dental disease and may need more frequent care. Home brushing, when done consistently, makes a real difference and can extend the time between cleanings. We assess your pet at every wellness visit and let you know when a cleaning is due.