When it comes to the health of our pets, dental care is one of the most overlooked and neglected practices. But there’s a good reason the American Veterinary Medical Association sponsors National Pet Dental Health Month every February — approximately 80% of dogs and 70% of cats develop some form of periodontal disease by the age of 3.
The health risk of bacteria from periodontal disease isn’t limited to the teeth and gums — it can infect your pet’s internal organs as well, and reduce your pet’s overall lifespan. And it’s difficult for pet owners to detect since most dental disease develops below the gum line, where it’s not visible. This is why it’s important to have a veterinarian examine and clean your pet’s teeth and gums during annual well-care visits.
The good news is that periodontal disease is treatable if it’s already present. If your pet has developed periodontal disease, a procedure called a dental prophy can remove the bacterial infection and relieve any associated pain. A dental prophy procedure will also decrease the chance that bacteria in your pet’s mouth will enter the bloodstream and infect the kidney, heart, or liver.
During a dental prophy procedure, the veterinarian will use an ultrasonic scaler to remove all plaque on the teeth and near the gums, and will then polish and treat the teeth with fluoride to eliminate any areas where plaque might take hold. Your pet will be anesthetized and monitored on 100% oxygen while the dental prophy and cleaning is performed, and will receive pain relief medication and a course of antibiotics.
$100 dental discount through February at our partner My Pet’s Animal Hospital
At PetWellClinic®, we are strong believers in providing dental care for your pets. While we focus on wellness preventative care and not surgical care, the veterinarians at PetWellClinic® are equipped to examine your pet’s mouth to determine if consulting with a full-service veterinarian hospital is recommended.
We are happy to forward our findings to your regular vet, or can refer you to Dr. Sam Meisler’s My Pet’s Animal Hospital — which partners with PetWellClinic® — should a full dental prophylaxis or tooth extractions be recommended.
Through the month of February, My Pet’s Animal Hospital offers an annual dental special of $100 off a dental prophy. (Offer good at My Pet’s Animal Hospital only, for dental procedures only, not valid with any other offer.)
Keeping your pet’s mouth free of periodontal disease is our goal at both My Pet’s Animal Hospital and PetWellClinic®. Examining dental health is one of the main well-care services provided by the vets at PetWellClinic®. By operating convenient hours for non-surgical care, PetWellClinic® is able to offer substantially discounted prices for wellness exams, treatment of minor issues such as skin conditions, and low-cost vaccinations and parasite preventative products.
We offer quick in-and-out service during convenient evening and weekend hours with no appointment necessary. PetWellClinic® has three locations: 10549 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922; 7329 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919; and 228 S. Calderwood Street, Alcoa,TN 37701. Learn more about how PetWellClinic® can exceed your expectations for affordable, top quality pet care by visiting our website at www.petwellclinic.com.
