Dental Care - Vet in Red Deer | Cedarwood Veterinary Hospital

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More life. More love. More memories.

Advanced dentistry for dogs and cats.

Wellness Visits

Most people visit the dentist twice yearly and brush their teeth several times per day. We often forget that pets also have teeth and need the same oral health care as your human family members to keep them optimally healthy.

Periodontal disease starts in most dogs and cats by 3 years of age, beginning with plaque and tartar buildup that causes minor gum inflammation, and progressing to bacterial infection, bone loss, and eventual tooth loss. This painful process can occur over many years, or only a few months in severely affected pets. Left untreated, bacteria invade the gums and jawbones and may spread through the blood, irreversibly damaging important organs, including the heart, kidneys, and liver.

Dental Care

Annual Dental Check-ups

Periodontal disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in dogs and cats, but pets are experts at hiding their discomfort, so the disease often goes unnoticed. Dental disease signs may include:

Bad breath
Yellow or brown tooth discoloration
Changes in eating or chewing habits
Dropping food
Drooling
Pawing at the mouth

At Cedarwood Veterinary & Animal Emergency Hospital, we recommend annual dental check-ups to identify periodontal disease and discuss treatment options, if necessary. Daily preventive dental care that includes regular toothbrushing with pet-specific toothpaste, dental chews, water additives, and dental treats or diets can significantly slow or stop periodontal disease progression. Regular professional dental cleanings and assessments are also required for complete oral health.

During a professional dental cleaning, our team will:

Safely anesthetize your pet
Take X-rays to evaluate tooth root and bone health
Perform a complete oral examination and tooth charting
Perform a thorough cleaning
Extract loose, fractured, infected, or damaged teeth

Periodontal Disease

Dental Health

Dental health is a concern for all pets, but certain breeds and body types are more prone to serious, fast-progressing disease. These pets, including toy and small breeds and brachycephalic (i.e., short-nosed) breeds, often require more frequent cleanings. Aggressive chewers prone to breaking their teeth may also require frequent evaluations and X-rays to address fracture complications.