Lone Mountain Veterinary in Carson City to host dental open house
Submitted by Brett Fisher on Mon, 02/20/2017 - 9:11pm
Happy teeth make for healthy pets, said Katie Roberts, DVM, who is inviting pet owners to a special open house Saturday at Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital in Carson City to learn the best methods for improving the dental care of their furry companions.
"Our dogs and cats need dental care to promote healthier lives," she said. "When we don't keep their teeth healthy, it can lead to pain, infection, and bad breath."
Tooth infections can lead to increased risk of other more serious health problems, she said, such as diseases of the liver, heart, kidneys and other organs.
Proper dental care for pets includes daily tooth brushing, specific chews and/or rinses, as well as periodic dental scaling performed under anesthetic and the care of a veterinarian.
"At our hospital, we repeatedly have clients bring their pets in for dental procedures who later admit that they had no idea that their pets were in pain," Dr. Roberts said. "After the procedure, they reveal how clear it is that their pets must have been in pain, as the pets are more energetic and playful than before."
She said dogs and cats learn to hide pain as protection from predators. This leads to subdued pets who are masking their pain in order to carry on with living.
“Good oral care will allow for a better quality of life,” said Barron P. Hall, DVM, Diplomate of the American Veterinary Dental College and Fellow of the Academy of Veterinary Dentists.
Improving a pet's quality of life isn't so much a science, Dr. Roberts said, as it is just making good decisions on their behalf.
"We all want our pets to be healthy and happy," she said. "Most of all, we don’t want them suffering from pain that can be easily treated in your veterinary hospital."
Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital's "Flip the Lip" Open House starts Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and runs until noon at 780 East College Parkway in Carson City.
The event will feature fun, educational activities for child and adult pet owners meant to teach good dental care habits. Tours of Lone Mountain's dental suite will give visitors a look behind the scenes inside a veterinary hospital.
Visitors are asked to leave their pets at home, though, because of limited space and the number of activities occurring throughout the morning.
For more information, find Lone Mountain Veterinary Hospital on Facebook here or visit its web site here.
