Dental care for your pets is as critical as it is for humans. Many people believe that if their pets are fed hard kibble that this will alleviate the need for a dental care program. This is entirely untrue. Just as in humans, your pet's teeth need to be brushed regularly and cleaned by a professional when necessary to remove the tartar build-up above the gum line.

Plaque:

Food particles and bacteria collect along the gum line forming plaque. Routine home care with brushing and a good diet can remove this plaque.

Tartar:

Minerals in the saliva combine with the plaque and form tartar (calculus), which adheres strongly to the teeth. The tartar is irritating to the gums and causes them to become red and inflamed (gingivitis). At this point, bad breath is a good indicator that your pet needs attention.

Periodontal disease:

Tartar begins to build up below the gum line and forms 'pockets' or gaps between the gums and the teeth which encourages bacteria growth. This damage is irreversible. It can be very painful and can lead to loose teeth, abscesses, bone loss or infection. There is potential for this increase in bacteria to enter the bloodstream where it affects the heart valves, liver and kidneys. If treated, periodontal disease can be slowed or stopped.

At the Oak Bay Pet Clinic, we are pleased to offer a full range of dental-related procedures and extraction surgery on site. The doctors can assess your pet's particular dental needs and explain the procedure to you in full. Remember that your pet will be anaesthetized for all dental work, so a full day is needed for such a procedure and pre-operative fasting guidelines will need to be adhered to.

During the physical exam, we will assess your pet's dental health and their needs. A detailed estimate will be generated at that time for any dental procedures that may be needed. We try to utilize diets as much as possible to prevent plaque and tartar build-up.

Dentistry is performed Tuesdays and Thursdays, however can be arranged by special appointment any day of the week. Drop off times are individually arranged so that your pet does not sit in a kennel for too long prior to their dental work. Antibiotics are started two days before to ensure that the bloodstream is prepared for any additional bacteria that enters the blood during the procedure. All our dentistry procedures are performed while your pet is on intravenous fluids. This emphasizes safety, hydration and speeds recovery time. These fluids are continued until your pet is ready to go home. If any extractions are performed, pain control is started immediately. Anti-inflammatory medications are continued at home to ensure that your pet remains comfortable following the procedure.

We understand that any general anaesthetic brings concern to many of our clients. We are pleased to report that we use the newest and safest of anaesthetic agents. All our patients are monitored at all times during anaesthesia and we pride ourselves on our anaesthetic technique. Anaesthetic emergencies are thus extremely rare. For peace of mind, all our clients are called with an update once their pet wakes up.