New clients welcome! Limited time free first exam (terms apply) - Book Today!

(802) 888-7776Book Appointment

Dog

Cat

Dental Care

Support your pet's health with professional dental cleanings, exams, and oral care you can trust.

Pet Dental Care: Keeping Your Pet’s Smile Healthy for Life
Just like humans, pets need regular dental care to stay healthy and happy. Dental disease is one of the most common—and often overlooked—health issues in dogs and cats. Left untreated, it can lead to painful infections, tooth loss, and even impact vital organs like the heart and kidneys.

What Is Pet Dental Care?

Pet dental care involves the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases that affect your pet’s teeth, gums, and mouth. It includes:

  • Routine dental exams

  • Professional cleanings under anesthesia

  • Dental X-rays to check below the gumline

  • Treatment of periodontal disease

  • Extractions (if necessary)

  • At-home dental hygiene guidance

Why Is Dental Care Important for Pets?

By the age of 3, most pets already show signs of periodontal disease. Unfortunately, the early signs—bad breath, tartar buildup, or red gums—often go unnoticed until they become more serious.

Dental disease doesn’t just stay in the mouth. Bacteria can enter the bloodstream and affect your pet’s liver, kidneys, and heart. Routine dental care helps prevent these complications and improves your pet’s overall quality of life.

What Happens During a Dental Visit?

At our veterinary hospital, your pet’s dental care typically involves:

  1. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork to ensure your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia.

  2. Full-mouth examination and digital dental X-rays to assess the teeth and jaw health, including what can’t be seen above the gumline.

  3. Ultrasonic scaling to remove plaque and tartar buildup.

  4. Polishing to smooth the tooth surface and slow future buildup.

  5. Extractions if teeth are broken, loose, or infected (only if necessary).

  6. Pain management and post-procedure care to ensure your pet is comfortable.

All procedures are performed with your pet’s safety and comfort as our top priorities. We use advanced monitoring and gentle techniques throughout.

How Can I Help at Home?

While professional cleanings are key, home care is just as important. Your veterinarian can recommend:

  • Pet-safe toothbrushes and toothpaste

  • Dental chews or diets

  • Water additives or oral rinses

Even a few minutes of brushing several times a week can make a big difference.

Common Signs of Dental Trouble

Keep an eye out for:

  • Bad breath

  • Drooling

  • Difficulty chewing

  • Red or bleeding gums

  • Pawing at the mouth

  • Loose or missing teeth

If you notice any of these signs, schedule a dental exam promptly.

Your pet’s mouth is a window into their overall health. Regular dental care isn’t just about a cleaner smile, it’s about helping your furry companion live a longer, healthier life.

🐾 Looking to keep your pet healthy and happy? Visit us—we’re here to support every step of the way.

Latest Blogs

Discover in-depth articles, thought leadership, and expert perspectives curated to inspire, educate, and keep you ahead of the curve in your industry.

Sequist's Cat Resources!

A simple, all-in-one collection of essential cat-care guides covering everything from vaccines and nutrition to socialization, dental care, insurance, and safety—designed to help you support your cat at every life stage.

Read More

Sequist's Dog Resources!

A curated collection of helpful dog-care guides, from vaccines and nutrition to training, insurance, and dental care—everything you need in one place to keep your pup healthy, happy, and thriving.

Read More

Feline Flea and Tick Preventatives

A clear explanation of how fleas and ticks affect pets, the risks they pose, why prevention is essential year-round, and how to choose appropriate parasite control for your cat.

Read More

FAQs

Answers to Common Questions

These nasty pests are quite common in our area and can be harmful to your pet. Flea bites are very irritating to your pet's skin and cause them to scratch and gnaw at the affected areas, resulting in infection. If you notice your pet scratching more than usual, there is a good chance they have fleas.

Antifreeze (ethylene glycol) is extraordinarily poisonous to both humans and our pets. A very small amount can be very dangerous to any pet. Antifreeze is especially difficult because it both smells and tastes sweet. If you believe your pet has ingested any amount of antifreeze, please call immediately.

Of course! If you are able, please be prepared with any questions or concerns you may have. We will be happy to address them during your appointment.

Necessary vaccinations vary from pet to pet. We take into consideration the lifestyle, age, and health status of every animal before developing a vaccine protocol.

The annual examination includes a tip-to-tail review of your pet. We examine the entire body to assess the health of your pet. We check the mouth to see if periodontal disease is present (which is an infection that can affect the heart, liver, and kidneys), ensure that your pet is the appropriate weight, listen to the heart and lungs, look for signs of infection and also ensure that your pet is moving normally.

We recommend testing a fecal sample from each pet on a yearly basis to check for internal parasites. Most of the internal parasites that we find on animals are too small to be seen in the feces. Also, pets are not necessarily having diarrhea or losing weight as a result of these parasites.