Dental and Oral Surgery
Dental care is much more than a pretty smile or good breath, it is about quality of life and optimal health. Dental care is necessary to prevent pain and infection to other organs. Do you need to worry about your cat’s teeth? Absolutely! Dental disease is the most common health problem in cats, with 70% of cats 3 years and older affected with periodontal disease. And it is often a “silent disease,” with most owners unaware the disease is happening.

The good news about dental disease is that it can be prevented or treated. This includes both home and veterinary dental care. We are committed to educate you about the dental care your cat deserves, which can include home teeth brushing, dental diets proven to prevent tartar, in-clinic dental care, including x-rays of the teeth, and oral surgery.

Check the reddened gums–this may not look terrible, but this is disease. Periodontal disease starts when plaque and tartar build up on the teeth. The plaque harbors bacteria, which causes gum inflammation (gingivitis) and can lead to infection. Dental disease can be very painful.

Although some teeth lesions are very obvious, many are not seen in cats without dental x-rays.

The crown of the tooth is excellent, but digital dental x-rays show severe disease of the tooth root which is painful.

Concerned about anesthesia? We take every precaution, and because of that, your main worry should be the dental disease, which is a far greater health risk than anesthesia in our practice. Please ask us about the measures we take to keep your cat safe before, during, and after the anesthesia.


Anesthesia & Patient Monitoring
Anesthesia, patient monitoring, and pain management may vary between clinics. The cost of anesthesia and anesthesia monitoring is usually more expensive when thorough safety measures are performed. We use the safest anesthesia based on your cat's breed, age, health, and the procedure performed.

At the Cat Care Clinic, anesthetized patients are monitored by certified technicians, the doctor does all surgical and dental procedures, and another technician is always available to chart your cat’s response to anesthesia and to perform blood pressures every 5 minutes – the best way to monitor the patient’s level of anesthesia. We also have pulse-oximetry to measure heart rate, EKG, oxygen level, and respiratory rate. Following anesthesia is an important time for monitoring too and we make sure your cat receives the needed attention during this time.


Surgery
To maintain a sterile environment for our surgeries, we have a dedicated surgical suite that meets AAHA standards. All instruments are smaller and easier on the tissues as we only need surgical instruments for cats. As with all anesthesia, a certified technician or “surgical nurse” who is trained in anesthesia and pain management is with your cat from the time anesthesia starts to full recovery.
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Hospitalization: Our Technicians provide excellent nursing care should your cat need to be hospitalized. Family visits are welcome during these times.