PET DENTAL CARE
TOTAL WELLNESS STARTS WITH PET DENTAL CARE
More than 70% of pets show signs of periodontal disease by age 3. Help prevent pain and other health issues with dental cleanings at Lovet.
The key to your pet’s long-term health is their oral health.
Regular professional dental cleanings can help stop dental disease at the source — below the gumline where plaque and bacteria can lurk undetected — keeping your pet healthy for the long term and avoiding complications like:
Kidney, liver, and heart disease
Periodontal (gum) disease
Tooth and bone loss
Pain and discomfort
THE LOVET DIFFERENCE
Thorough initial exam
On a separate visit before the procedure, our vet will do a nose-to-tail exam in addition to running bloodwork to ensure your pet is healthy inside and out.
Anesthesia for comfort & efficacy
We adhere to the AAHA & AVMA recommendations of anesthetized dentistry for pets, ensuring we can effectively clean and scale below the gumline with safety and comfort for your pet.
Constant supervision
During the procedure, two members of the Lovet team will be by their side at all times: one to examine, clean, and scale, and one to monitor vitals to ensure your pet is safe and comfortable.
Attentive Care
From pain management to full-mouth x-rays to cozy warming blankets, no detail gets overlooked during cleanings at Lovet. And we’ll keep you informed every step of the way, from drop-off to pick-up.
How to schedule a dental appointment.
Schedule wellness exam
Pick the time that works best for you with convenient online scheduling.
Complete wellness exam & schedule cleaning
After bloodwork and a thorough examination of their teeth and health, we’ll schedule your pet’s cleaning.
Prepare your pet
Make sure your pet has fasted and has taken any instructed medications before the cleaning. Don’t worry: we’ll send you reminders!
Complete cleaning
Drop your pet off during your scheduled time and pick them up with a healthy smile!
When dental care is urgent.
Pets are capable of hiding symptoms of dental disease until they’re too uncomfortable to ignore. Contact your local Lovet right away if your pet is experiencing the following symptoms, which could be a sign that they need extractions urgently:
Drooling or bad breath
Broken, loose, or discolored teeth
Sudden loss of appetite
Swelling or bleeding in the mouth
Abnormal chewing
WORRY ABOUT YOUR PET NOT YOUR BILL
We offer more ways to pay, including flexible financing, so your pet can get the care they need without the worries of a vet bill you may not be able to cover all at once.
Frequently asked questions
Is dental disease common in cats and dogs?
Unfortunately, yes. Over 70% of cats and dogs show signs of periodontal disease by the age of 3.
How often should my pet get dental cleanings?
In general, our vets recommend at least one professional dental cleaning per year for cats and dogs as part of their overall annual primary care. We may recommend two cleanings per year depending on breed type, dental disease progression, or other factors.
How long do dental care appointments at Lovet usually last?
It depends on the level of care your pet needs. On average, a standard cleaning without extractions is 30 minutes to an hour. A dental appointment requiring extractions can range from one hour to three. Pre-anesthesia labwork, recovery, and other services during your pet’s appointment can also add time to the appointment, as well as any extremely urgent cases that may come in that require our attention. Your Lovet vet can advise you specifically on how long your pet’s cleaning will be after their wellness exam.
How do I prepare my pet for their dental care appointment?
During your pre-procedure wellness exam, your Lovet vet will give you detailed instructions for preparing your pet for anesthesia. Likely, these will include instructions to fast your pet — or refrain from feeding them for at least eight hours — which is usually why dental cleanings are scheduled after the initial wellness exam.
What happens during dental cleanings?
After you’ve dropped your pet off for their dental cleaning, we get to work preparing them for the procedure. We give them sedation, pain medication, then place IVs and do bloodwork. When we’re ready to start the cleaning, we’ll administer anesthesia for your pet’s comfort and safety. Then, our tech team will clean, scale, polish, and take radiographs of your pet’s teeth and check their gums and the presence of pockets. Our vet will step in to do a thorough exam to check for growths, lesions, or other concerns. We’ll always call you before proceeding to perform any extractions or other periodontal treatments as needed. When we’re done, we’ll wake up your pet and keep a close eye on them to make sure they recover well. Then, we’ll give you a call when your pet is ready to be picked up! If at any point our services deviate from the plan we made together during your pet’s wellness exam, we’ll give you a call to confirm that it’s okay with you.
Will my pet be sedated or put under anesthesia?
Your pet will be sedated initially to keep them calm and comfortable while we do pre-cleaning preparations like placing their IV and doing bloodwork. Sedation isn’t enough for pain management or safety during cleaning, scaling, and extractions, so we will place your pet under anesthesia for those procedures.
What is periodontal disease?
Periodontal disease is a chronic infection of gum tissue, caused by a buildup of plaque and bacteria on the teeth.
Can dogs or cats get cavities?
Yes, though they're rare due to the low quantity of sugar in their diets.
Do I need a pre-op exam to book a dental appointment? How do I book a dental appointment?
Dental appointments can only be made by hospital staff after a pre-operative wellness exam is performed on your pet. To start the dental appointment process, make a wellness exam appointment (select “Routine Check-up") on our online portal or give your local Lovet a call.