Our Jacksonville Pet Dentists
You may have heard that it is possible to add two to four years to your pet’s life with proper dental care. This is true, but you will also increase his or her health, vitality and wellbeing. In short, proper dental care will help ensure your pet leads the best life possible. Our Jacksonville veterinarians are here to help.
However, if left untreated, dental disease can not only be painful and inhibit proper nutrition, but it can also lead to serious systemic issues that may affect your pet’s wellbeing before symptoms are noticeable. For example, oral bacteria that enter the bloodstream can damage your pet’s lungs, kidneys, heart or liver.
Despite the importance of proper dental care, dental disease is often overlooked by many pet owners across the country. For example, it is estimated that more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop tooth and gum disease by the age of three years.
This is why we take proper dental care so seriously. It is an important part of your pet’s preventative care program. . Our pet dental services include routine cleanings, oral examinations to screen for disease above and below the gum line, as well as extractions and other procedures. For complicated oral surgeries and related procedures, we work with a board certified specialist to ensure your pet receives the best care possible.
Digital Pet Dental Radiology
Mandarin Animal Hospital now offers digital dental radiology which produces high-definition images of your pet's teeth. More accurate than traditional radiology, digital dental radiology produces clear images of the area below your pet's gum line in order to diagnose dental disease that cannot be seen by visual examination alone. This is a powerful tool for enabling the treatment of dental disease before it becomes much larger and more difficult to treat.
Home Pet Dental Care
Dental care is not something that can be left to periodic visits with your veterinarian. Because plaque buildup—the primary cause of poor oral health—is a gradual process occurring throughout the life of your pet, it is important to practice good home dental care. As with humans, this means regular tooth brushing and in some cases additional steps may be necessary. Any member of the Mandarin Animal Hospital staff can show you the proper method for caring for your pet’s teeth as well as help you select the most effective dental products for your pet.
You should also be able to recognize the signs of poor oral health. If you notice any of the following you may want to contact your veterinarian:
- Bad breath – one of the first signs of dental disease
- A yellowish-brown crust of plaque on the teeth near the gum line
- Red and swollen gums
- Pain or bleeding when your pet eats or when the mouth or gums are touched
- Decreased appetite or difficulty eating
- Loose or missing teeth
