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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.

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FAQs

There is no question too big or too small for our veterinary team.

East Longmeadow Animal Hospital advises the following common vaccinations your pet will receive from the time they are a puppy or kitten and when they are an adult animal. Core Vaccines: Rabies (Canines and Felines) (by Mass. state law) Canine Parvovirus (Canines only) Canine Hepatitis (Canines only) Feline Calicivirus (Felines only) Feline Rhitnotracheitis (Felines only) Lifestyle Vaccines: Lepto Bordetella Influenza

Euthanasia is an option considered for a pet when recovery or a comfortable existence is highly unlikely. If you are considering euthanasia for your pet, please schedule an appointment so our staff at East Longmeadow Animal Hospital can evaluate your pet and provide you with the medical treatment options available.

Euthanasia is an injection of an anesthetic overdose into a vein of your pet which causes them to pass away quickly and painlessly. We also offer End-of-Life & Euthanasia services here at East Longmeadow Animal Hospital.

East Longmeadow Animal Hospital advises that Kittens and puppies require vaccinations between 6-8 weeks, then 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. After that, your kitten and puppy should receive annual check-ups to receive routine care and rabies vaccinations by state law.

Rabies vaccine is required by Mass. state law. East Longmeadow Animal Hospital recommends cats receive rabies annually and canines every three years after their first initial rabies vaccines.

East Longmeadow Animal Hospital advised the following for neutering. Dogs: Typically dogs are neutered around six to nine months of age. If you have an adult dog, they can still be neutered. For canines, spay and neuter recommendations vary based on breed and size of the pet. Your vet will provide you with recommendations based on the individual patient during an exam. Cats: Kittens can be spayed or neutered as young as six months old. It is recommended that you spay or neuter your cat before they are five months old.