Up-coming Events

February is Pet Dental Month

-Take a few moments and lift your pet’s lips. What you should notice is a mouth full of white, shiny teeth. What do you see?


-Most pets will be suffering from different degrees of gingivitis and periodontal disease. The brown to black build up on the teeth, the receding gum lines, and the bad breath are all indicators that your pet is suffering from dental disease. Dental disease is often overlooked until it is too late.

Not only will this cause your pet bad breath and tooth loss, but it can cause serious diseases such as heart failure and bacterial blood infection. Plaque seeds bacteria into the blood stream and can lead to serious problems. Dental disease is also very painful for your pet. Think of how irritating it was the last time that you had a popcorn kernel imbedded under your gum. Now imagine the discomfort that your pet feels with tartar and plaque creeping between its teeth and gums.

-Do not fret! There is hope! Periodic dental cleanings can significantly reduce plaque build-up on your pet’s teeth, thereby preventing dental disease and the associated complications.

-The cleaning is performed while your pet is under anesthesia to enable a safe, thorough cleaning. A machine called an ultrasonic descaler quickly removes visible tartar and plaque. Special instruments called curettes are used to remove tartar and plaque that have already begun working under the gums. Once the teeth are cleaned, the next step is a thorough polishing of all the teeth surfaces. This whitens the teeth and smoothes the surface to help prevent plaque from reestablishing itself. Lastly the teeth are treated with fluoride which gives them strength and helps to prevent cavities.

-Once your pet goes home, not only will its teeth be cleaner and its breath smell fresher, but it will feel better and be much healthier.

Heartworm testing has begun!

It is recommended that you have your dog heartworm tested in order to start giving their heartworm preventative on May 1. It will then be given through October or year round if you’d like. Heartworm disease is passed by mosquitoes, so all dogs are at risk wherever mosquitoes are present. It only takes ONE infected mosquito to infect your pet.