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:

  • Bad breath
  • Red, inflamed gums
  • Loose or broken teeth
  • Excessive salivation
  • Difficulty eating/chewing
  • Swelling around the face
  • Pawing at the mouth
  • Altered behavior

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.