Chattahoochee animal clinic monthly specials

Its that time again...time to flip the lip. Are you able to smell your dog's horrid breath from the other room? When your dog greats you with a happy puppy kiss does it smell like a sewer tank? This is a common complaint that we encounter at Chattahoochee Animal Clinic on a daily basis. That odor might signify a serious health risk, with the potential to damage not only your pet's teeth and gums but its internal organs as well.  Now you say..."But my dog is young and only three years old. How can he have this problem?" Well, did you know that over 70% of dogs over the age of three have dental disease. As veterinarians, our mission is to provide comprehensive care for our patients, so that we may extend their lives for as long as possible. Part of this care involves dental cleanings and dental assessments at each visit.

So, now we have to stop and think about this and take a walk on the human side. Human dentists recommend cleanings every six months for us, right? And we BRUSH our teeth multiple times per day! How many times a WEEK does your dog or cat get his/her teeth brushed? So, one must expect that eventually our pets will need a dental cleaning.

What are the "red flags" for a potential dental problem? Here is a short list of things we must pay attention to as pet owners.

1. misaligned or missing teeth
2. discolored, broken or crooked teeth
3. yellowish-brown tartar crust along the gum line
4. red, swollen or bleeding gums
5. growths inside the mouth
6. excessive drooling
7. bad breath

If you notice any of these and you live in the metro Atlanta area please give us a call to have a dental assessment performed. If you do not live near Roswell, then contact your veterinarian to have your pet evaluated. These are vital visits to the veterinary hospital. This will help identify and address potential problems in the mouth that you may not have even realized.

Early recognition is key to preventing tooth loss, mouth pain, and more expensive procedures as the disease advances. Once you have gum loss, loose teeth, or infection in the mouth. The procedure time is longer and the recovery can be longer. We stage our dental patients into four different levels. Once a patient is beyond a level two, there is a high risk of tooth lose and potential need for surgical extractions. So, our take home message pertaining to dental care is to get them done before they reach this level. All that is involved is flipping the lip and taking a peek at the gums and teeth.

Chattahoochee Animal Clinic is taking part in this national dental month by offering several specials to help our pet parents take great care of their dog or cat's dental health. Call us for details. We look forward to seeing all of you soon. And remember...Flip the lip!