Pet Dental Care Tips from Your Hunt Valley Veterinarians

Pet teeth are as important to your pet’s health as human teeth are to our health. They aid in the digestion of food and help pets get the nutrition they need to live long, healthy lives. Poor dental care can lead to painful infections, abscesses and other health problems for your pet.
We wouldn’t think of ignoring our teeth between visits to the dentist, but many pet owners are surprised to find that dental care at home is necessary between visits to our clinic. Here are a few tips you can use to brush your pets’ teeth between the regular, professional pet teeth cleaning services they receive from our veterinarians.

How to Brush Your Pet’s Teeth

It’s best to start getting puppies or kittens accustomed to the feeling of dental care as soon as you bring them home. Start by simply dipping your finger into some beef bouillon for dogs or tuna water for cats and gently rubbing your finger along your pet’s teeth and around the gum line.

After a few days of this procedure, put a piece of gauze over your finger, then rub the teeth and gums a little more vigorously. Very shortly you will be able to move up to using a pet toothbrush. Don’t use one of your old toothbrushes as they are not made to fit properly into your pet’s mouth. Also be sure to use specially formulated pet toothpaste as our toothpaste could be harmful to their digestive system.

Between brushings, feed your pet dry pet food to help build strong teeth and provide dry dog bones and rubber chew toys to help keep gums free of plaque.

Dental Care at our Hunt Valley Animal Hospital

Professional animal dental care at our clinic is similar to what you might receive when you visit a dentist. We provide pet teeth cleaning and can safely remove any plaque that has built up, take dental x-rays, apply a sealant and extract any damaged teeth.

Have you had any problems brushing your pets’ teeth?

Spay and Neuter Surgery Protects Your Pet's Health

As a pet owner, one of the biggest decisions you will make is whether to spay or neuter your pet. While this is a personal choice, spaying or neutering can protect your pet's health and also help control the unwanted animal population.

Spaying or neutering a pet involves the surgical removal of the ovaries or testicles, respectively. Here at Hunt Valley Animal Hospital, our veterinarians recognize that any surgical procedure, no matter how routine, can be stressful for both pets and pet owners. Prior to administering anesthesia, we conduct routine blood work to check blood sugar, kidney health and red blood cell count. This blood work ensures there are no underlying conditions that may be complicated by the anesthesia.

Minimally Invasive Spay Surgery

Our Hunt Valley vet clinic is one of the only veterinary hospitals to offer minimally invasive spay surgery. Dr. Allan Frank and the veterinarians at Hunt Valley are proud to offer laparoscopic spay surgery for dogs over 25 pounds. Laparoscopic ovariectomy only removes the ovaries, rather than traditional spay surgery that removes both the ovaries and uterus. The incision length is reduced from several inches to only 11mm. This greatly reduces post-operation pain, lowers the risk for complications and speeds the healing process. We’re proud to be one of the only veterinary hospitals in our area to offer this minimally invasive surgery.

When deciding whether to spay or neuter your pet, keep in mind that this surgery offers a number of important health benefits, in addition to reducing aggressive behavior. Spaying prior to the first heat dramatically lowers the risk of mammary cancer, which is fatal in 50% of cats and 90% of dogs. Spayed females no longer go into heat, so pet owners don’t need to worry about doggy diapers, keeping the neighbor’s dog away from your dog, or providing expensive veterinary care for an unexpected pregnancy. Neutered males focus their attention on the family, rather than constantly escaping to seek a mate. This lowers the risk for fights and emergency vet bills.

Spay and neuter operations also help reduce the unwanted animal population. Many pet owners are surprised to learn that over 3 million animals are euthanized in shelters every year – many of which are the offspring of purebred animals and beloved family pets. With so many animals in need of a forever home, the decision to spay or neuter your pet gives other animals a chance at finding that home.

Did you choose to spay or neuter your pet? Share your story below!

Another successful found pet story from Home Again microchip company.

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