One of the first clues that your furry friend might be dealing with dental disease is bad breath. While we all expect a little “puppy” or “kitty” breath, it shouldn’t be overly strong or unpleasant. Often, that odor comes from infection hiding at or below the gumline. If you’ve noticed your pet’s breath getting stinkier over time, let us take a gentle look so we can help keep their smile — and their kisses — fresh and healthy!

You can start thinking about dental care as soon as your puppy or kitten’s adult teeth come in — usually by 6 months of age. Before then, their gums can be a bit tender as those teeth are erupting, so we recommend waiting until that process is complete. Once those grown-up teeth are in place, it’s the perfect time to introduce gentle toothbrushing and make it a lifelong habit. If your fur baby isn’t a fan of the toothbrush, don’t worry — we can help you explore other at-home dental care options to keep their mouth clean and healthy (products such as Oral Flakes can be sprinkled onto food).

The secret to a healthy smile is removing plaque every day! If brushing isn’t done daily, plaque and tartar start to collect along the gumline, trapping bacteria. Over time, this hardens into calculus, which irritates the gums and allows infection to sneak beneath them. This can lead to tooth pain, loose teeth, and even infections that travel to other parts of the body — including the liver, kidneys, and heart. Keeping up with regular dental care helps protect your pet’s mouth and their whole-body health.

Even if your fur baby isn’t thrilled about it, part of every wellness visit includes gently lifting their lips to check those pearly whites. If we spot signs of dental disease, we may recommend a professional dental cleaning. Why? Because more serious issues — like advanced periodontal disease or a fractured tooth — are often only found during a cleaning under anesthesia. At that time, we can use a special periodontal probe to check for bone loss around each tooth and take full-mouth radiographs to see if any teeth need to be removed or if there’s a way to save them.

Our feline friends don’t get cavities the same way people do, but many develop painful lesions at the gumline that damage the tooth enamel. These are called tooth resorptions. Some can be seen during an oral exam, but others hide below the gumline and are only found with dental radiographs. Reason for what causes them isn't exactly known, but the best way to relieve discomfort is to remove the affected tooth. Tooth resorption can be progressive, meaning new spots may appear over your kitty’s lifetime. Since our feline friends are experts at hiding mouth pain, we recommend at least a yearly vet visit to catch problems early.

How often your pet needs a dental cleaning depends on how much plaque and tartar build up over time. At home, we recommend daily dental care if possible, along with monthly “lip lifts” to check their teeth and gums. Look for yellow or brown buildup where the tooth meets the gumline — especially on the big cheek teeth and canine teeth — and watch for bright red or pink gums, which can signal inflammation or infection.

If you see plaque or tartar, it’s time for a professional cleaning. That buildup harbors bacteria that irritate the gums, but once treated, the inflammation often goes away. Left untreated, though, it can progress to painful periodontitis, which may require removing the tooth.

Brushing every day is ideal, but even a few times a week can make a big difference. If your fur baby isn’t a fan of the toothbrush, we can suggest other options — just know they may need cleanings more often. Most pets benefit from yearly professional dental cleanings starting around age 2–3.

The goal? Consistent home care, regular professional cleanings, and a lifetime of fresh breath and healthy smiles!

We know how much you love your fur baby, and we understand that anesthesia can feel a little scary.

For a thorough and effective dental cleaning, anesthesia is essential. It allows us to safely clean below the gumline, take clear dental X-rays, control pain if extractions are needed, and place a breathing tube to protect the airway so bacteria-filled debris doesn’t enter the lungs.

At Union Hill Animal Hospital, your pet’s safety is our top priority. We follow the latest medical guidelines, use state-of-the-art equipment, and maintain advanced training for our team to ensure each anesthesia experience is as safe, gentle, and stress-free as possible — so your fur baby can get the care they need and you can feel confident they’re in loving hands.

We take every possible precaution to make your fur baby’s procedure safe, gentle, and stress-free. The staff is Fear Free certified, and so from the moment they arrive, we focus on their comfort and well-being with gentle handling. We start with calming pre-medications, perform pre-anesthetic lab work to check organ function, and place an IV catheter to provide fluids and allow quick access to medications if needed. Throughout the procedure, we keep them warm and cozy with continuous heat support.

Every patient is connected to advanced monitoring equipment, just like in a human hospital. A trained technician closely tracks their heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and temperature from start to finish. Caring for your fur baby is a responsibility we take to heart — because they’re family to you, and that makes them family to us.

Chewing on objects that are harder than your pet’s teeth can lead to painful fractures. Be extra cautious with cow hooves, horse hooves, very firm Nylabones, and antlers, as these often damage the large upper chewing teeth. Tug-of-war games can also be risky, especially for young dogs and cats, since they can shift growing teeth or fracture the front teeth. Even frisbee play can sometimes cause dental trauma. For a safer alternative, we love treats and toys like our Yummy Combs (for our canine companions) and Dental Bites for our feline friends) that let your fur baby chew happily without harming their teeth.

If your fur baby breaks a tooth, the treatment depends on the severity and location of the fracture. At Union Hill Animal Hospital, we can often seal a small, uncomplicated tip fracture. For more severe fractures — or those with infection — the tooth may need to be extracted. In some cases, we can refer you to a veterinary dentist for a root canal, which can save the tooth.

It’s important to remember that a fractured tooth with an exposed nerve cannot be left untreated. It causes pain and can quickly lead to infection that may affect the rest of your pet’s body. While losing a tooth may feel concerning, your fur baby will be much healthier and more comfortable in both the short and long term than if an infected tooth is left behind.

We invite you to bring your fur baby in for a free oral exam with one of our skilled vet assistants or technicians. During this visit, we’ll assess their mouth and provide a dental cleaning estimate*. You’ll always receive a range — a low-end and high-end estimate.

Why a range instead of a firm quote? Remember, about half of dental disease hides below the gumline. The wide estimate accounts for any surprises we may uncover once we begin, and we like to slightly overestimate so there are no budgeting surprises.

We perform dental cleanings Monday through Friday. In cases of severe dental disease, the doctor may recommend staging the procedure — addressing the most affected teeth first, then returning a few weeks later to remove any remaining diseased teeth.

Your fur baby will go home that afternoon with a fresh, clean mouth — ready for all those happy kisses! If extractions were performed, we’ll provide pain medication to ensure a comfortable recovery at home.

* Dental estimates are valid for 5 months. If your procedure is scheduled beyond that timeframe, we will provide an updated estimate to ensure accuracy as costs may have changed.