Monthly Newsletter JANUARY 2015
(970) 206 206--1868
info@friendshipfoco.com
Totally Teeth
In this issue: Totally Teeth Next month is Pet Dental Month! Totally Teeth informs you of why it is critical to care for your Pet’s teeth Friendship Hospital’s Dental Month deal Staff Spotlight Meet the new Hospital Manager! Coming up In February we are ‘All Ears!’ and want you to know what it means to be AAHA accredited
Ever wonder why your pet’s breath smells bad? It is not because they just ate too much garlic. Rather, just like humans, pets are predisposed to hereditary dental accumulation. Likely, your pet does not put up with daily brushing. This is normal but also requires owners to be proactive about caring for their pets teeth. Dental hygiene is one of the most overlooked areas in pet health. Studies by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) show that almost two-thirds of pets are not receiving the recommended dental care. Normally occurring bacteria in the mouth turns into plaque which attaches to the teeth. At first the plaque is soft and can be dislodged by brushing or chewing hard food and toys. However if not dislodged it calcifies into tartar which then is the foundation for more plaque to build on top of it. As this happens the gums can get inflamed and bleed easily—this is gingivitis. If left untreated, the final stages of periodontal disease destroys the tissue surrounding teeth causing tooth erosion. Studies show that dental cleanings beginning at the age of one year for cats and small-breed dogs and at two years for larger-breed dogs is ideal to offset the periodontal disease process. Taking your pet to an accredited veterinary hospital that uses anesthesia for their dental care is vital as anesthesia with intubation is necessary to remove plaque and tartar from the entire tooth—at least 60% of which is under the gum line and inaccessible without doing a sedated cleaning. Many pet owners are skeptical of anesthesia—don’t be as your pet will only receive a complete and safe dental cleaning from a licensed vet using anesthesia. Read on to learn the dangers of using anesthesia-free dental practice.
Information from “AAHA Dental Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats.” AAHA. n.p., n.d. Web. 08 Jan. 2015.
Why anesthesia-FREE dentals are dangerous and ineffective for your pet...
Employee Spotlight Welcoming new Hospital Manager, Amanda Zimmerman! Hi! My name is Amanda. I am Friendship’s Hospital Manager. I bring 10 years of Veterinary technician experience as well as 7 years of business experience through higher education. Originally from southern California, I relocated to Fort Collins in 2012 and have never looked back! With my snuggly boxer boy, Hobson, and fiancé I enjoy hiking through the foothills and road cycling around Horsetooth. I am thrilled to be a part of Friendship’s dynamic, passionate and knowledgeable team. Together our team will provide you and your furry family members with exceptional service!
Providing excellence in pet care while strengthening the human-animal bond.
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Naturally, your loved one going under anesthesia can be concerning. At Friendship we take the necessary precautions by requiring preanesthesia blood work to be performed to ensure that your pet is safe for sedation. During the procedure your pet will be receiving I.V. fluids and receive constant vital sign monitoring by the Doctor and a Certified Veterinary Technician dedicated to your pet. The real danger is taking your pet to a clinic that does not use anesthesia to perform your pet’s dental cleaning. Without anesthesia, cleaning beneath the gum line and viewing abnormalities beneath the gum line is impossible. The cleaning is merely cosmetic. This is because dental tartar firmly adheres to the surface of the teeth. It requires ultrasonic and sonic power scalers to adequately scrape the teeth clean. Additionally, sharp hand instruments must be used to scrape and check for pockets between the teeth and gums. When sedated the Doctor can correctly and accurately assess the pet’s tooth, gum, overall mouth health and perform dental x-rays. X-rays and dental scaling will show abnormalities including recessing teeth, pockets between tooth and gum which if not treated can become infected then abscess leaving the animal in a much worsened state of health, cracks and breaks in teeth which go well beyond the gum line—all of these conditions
may be unknown by simply viewing a non-sedated animal. Additionally, a non-sedated patient may easily get frightened during a cleaning process and are at a very increased risk for injury and pain. Non-sedated animals will struggle and move as procedures are being done potentially resulting in injury to oral tissues, bites inflicted to those working on the animal and increased risk for post-procedure infection. Although anesthesia will never be 100% risk-free, taking your pet to an accredited and trusted veterinarian who uses proper anesthesia preparation and monitoring greatly minimizes the risk. At Friendship, dental procedures are done midday therefore we have you drop your pet off first thing in the morning then pick him/her up that evening. The Friendship Doctors keep in constant contact with you, as necessary, during the procedure and call when it is complete to let you know that your pet is in recovery. Don’t delay on this important issue! Call us to schedule your pet’s dental today! Receive 10% off during the month of February!
Information from “Companion Animal Dental Scaling Without Anesthesia.” American Veterinary Dental College. n.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2015.
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