Dentistry

Studies show that more than 80% of dogs have some stage of periodontal disease by the age of three. Periodontal disease can be very painful and can cause other health problems involving the kidneys, heart, and liver. Although periodontal disease is very common today, it is preventable! Please see the following websites for ways you can prevent periodontal disease in your pet:

http://www.avdc.org

http://www.vohc.org

http://www.petmd.com

At Summit Veterinary Services, we perform a full dental work up. We perform pre-anesthetic bloodwork to ensure your pet is able to tolerate anesthesia. We use gas anesthesia and monitor your pet's vitals (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, temperature, SpO2) every 3 minutes while under anesthesia. A full oral examination will be performed to find pockets, infection, etc. The majority of periodontal disease occurs beneath the gumline which we cannot see with the naked eye. We perform dental x-rays before each dental procedure to get a good look at what is occurring under your pet's gumline. Your pet's teeth will be cleaned with an ultrasonic scaler and then polished. OraVet barrier sealant will then be applied to the gumline to deter bacterial attachment and further tartar formation. We perform tooth extractions according to the AVDC guidelines. Dr. Lindsay has a special interest in veterinary dentistry and would love to have the opportunity to help your pet!