Pet Dental Care
At High Desert Veterinary, we know how important dental health is to your dog or cat’s overall health. We’ve invested in advanced training, certifications, and state-of-the-art technology to diagnose and treat a full range of dental problems — from routine cleanings to oral surgery — for both dogs and cats.
Why is dental health so important?
Good dental health has a direct effect on your pet’s quality of life. Pets with healthy teeth are happier, healthier, and more likely to live longer. Poor dental health can lead to a painful mouth, poor appetite, and weight loss. Advanced periodontal disease can cause blood-borne infection, heart disease, liver disease, urinary tract infections, and other serious health consequences. Dental disease is often “the final straw” for elderly pets — which is exactly why we built it into our Senior Package.
Do all dogs and cats need dental care?
Yes — both. Dogs and cats start life with baby teeth, which they lose around four months and replace with permanent adult teeth by six months. From there, tartar begins to build up — the rate depends on diet, behavior, age, genetics, and species.
Dogs commonly develop tartar buildup and periodontal disease. Cats face many of the same risks, plus a condition unique to them — tooth resorption, a painful erosion of the tooth that’s often invisible without dental x-rays. It’s one of the most common — and most overlooked — dental conditions in cats, which is why a thorough exam matters just as much for your cat as it does for your dog.
As tartar and disease progress, they cause gum inflammation and infection — gingivitis and periodontal disease — which can be both life-threatening and quite painful. It’s hard to appreciate how much a pet can be suffering from a damaged tooth or diseased gums until we treat it — owners are often amazed at how much happier, playful, and food-motivated their pet becomes afterward.
Could your pet be suffering from dental issues?
Watch for these warnings signs:
- Foul breath
- Discoloration, enamel staining, or visible tartar
- Loose or broken teeth
- Gums overgrowing teeth
- Red, sensitive, or bleeding gums
- Receding gums with exposed tooth roots
- Oral ulcers
- Lumps or mass lesions in the mouth
Cats can show subtler signs too — reluctance to eat hard food, drooling, pawing at the mouth, or simply becoming quieter and less interactive. Cats are notoriously good at hiding pain, so even small behavior changes are worth a look.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Regular cleanings and annual checkups are the best way to keep your pet comfortable and healthy — and preventive care is almost always less expensive than treating a problem after it’s progressed.
Pet Dentistry at High Desert Veterinary
How we evaluate, plan, and treat dental issues
If you suspect your dog or cat has a dental issue, bring them in for a physical exam that includes a full dental evaluation. We’ll check your pet’s mouth, determine whether a routine cleaning is needed, and perform a tooth-by-tooth exam to look for periodontal disease.
If anything looks concerning, we’ll take dental x-rays — taken in-house, with images ready in seconds. Since many dental problems (including feline tooth resorption) happen below the gumline, x-rays often reveal more than a visual exam alone.
If treatment is needed, we’ll walk you through the options and build a plan together. We take a conservative approach to extractions, periodontal treatment, and oral surgery, following established veterinary guidelines — preserving teeth when practical, while being realistic about cost and long-term benefit. With the exception of root canals and orthodontics, we’re equipped to handle nearly all dental procedures, including major oral surgery, for both dogs and cats.
Once treatment is complete, we’ll follow up with aftercare to keep your pet comfortable and minimize infection during healing. We may also recommend ongoing care — dental chews, oral rinses, or daily brushing — along with a routine cleaning schedule tailored to your pet’s needs.
