Pets rely on their teeth every day. Not only do the teeth play an essential role in eating, but cats and dogs also use them for playing and grooming. Animals that do not have adequate dental care may experience increased pain due to tooth decay and other dental issues. Wintermere Pointe Animal Hospital provides dental care for pets in Clermont, Winter Garden, and Windermere. If you are looking for a veterinarian in Winter Garden, our veterinary team is there to help. Here's what you need to know about pet dental extractions.
Dental Extractions Treat Dental Infection
Periodontal disease affects the gums and teeth. Unfortunately, the only way to truly avoid periodontal disease and infection is to remove the affected teeth. This is also the case for broken or cracked teeth, which can make your pet even more vulnerable to infections. It's essential to remove infected teeth to prevent a variety of other health implications. For example, a dental infection can lead to heart disease and liver disease. Plus, pets with painful teeth are less likely to want to eat or groom themselves.
Signs Your Pet Needs Dental Care
Some issues may indicate that your pet requires a professional assessment of its oral health. They include:
- Behavioral problems
- Moodiness or aggression
- Lack of appetite
- Pawing at the mouth or face
- Weight loss
If you notice that your pet is experiencing any type of mouth pain, contact our veterinary team right away.
Our Approach to Pet Dental Extractions
The typical dental extraction procedure tends to be a full-day affair. A normal treatment can run between six to eight hours with the preparation, surgery itself, and then the post-recovery. This includes a nerve block agent to help reduce the pain involved for the animal. Within the extraction procedure itself, a number of serious steps are required. That includes cutting into the gum to access the tooth root as well as the surrounding bone of the cheek or jaw. The vacated tooth socket is then cleaned out, the work area closed, and the surgical site monitored to avoid infection. In short, pet dental extractions are a complex and significant procedure in restoring dental health to your dog or cat.
Recovery After Dental Extraction
A singular tooth extraction is not going to be a major problem for a pet, as long as the dog or cat has other teeth that are still healthy. In most cases, the tooth being extracted is closer to the front. Since dogs and cats primarily use their molars for chewing, eating will not be a problem after the procedure. Within a day or so, your pet will likely not notice or remember having a bad tooth at all. Just expect a bit of a mess around the food bowl until they get it down to a system again.
Visit Us for Pet Dental Extractions from Our Veterinarian in Winter Garden
Wintermere Pointe Animal Hospital provides pet dental care, including tooth extractions when your animal needs it most. If you are looking for a veterinarian in Winter Garden, Clermont, or Windermere, call our clinic today.
