Dental Emergencies in Pets

Dental Emergencies in Pets

Problems breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, a nasty fall, or being struck by a car enter your mind when pet owners think about a vet emergency. Dental emergencies in cats and dogs, on the other hand, are just one of the most overlooked reasons for emergencies. The teeth of our furry friends can break, become infected, and shatter their jaws. Knowing what defines an emergency and understanding what we can do and what support you can give your pet are helpful.

What is a dental emergency?

A dental emergency includes the mouth, head, or neck areas that require prompt treatment to halt bleeding, relieve severe pain, or save a tooth. This also applies to possibly fatal ailments. 

These are samples of situations requiring prompt clinical attention from an emergency pet hospital (but are not limited to):

  • Severe or traumatic head trauma injuries include lip and tongue lacerations and oral hemorrhage.
  • Avulsions and luxations of the teeth (true dental emergencies; place the avulsed tooth in milk till referral to the vet dentist or oral surgeon).
  • Inflammation/infection causes swelling around the nose, mouth, jaws, face, and neck.
  • Critical palate defects, jaw fractures, and temporomandibular joint luxations.
  • Severe difficulty opening or closing the mouth.

How to Avoid Common Dental Emergencies

  • Keep your dog on a softer chew toy to help avoid tooth fractures. Keep your kitty cat inside your home to keep them safe from biting and chewing hazards.
  • Always put them on a leash and monitor their interactions with other pets and animals.
  • Following any tooth or jaw injury, a visit to the veterinary dentistry specialist may help you avoid most infections and save you cash over time.
  • Having your pet’s teeth assessed and cleaned regularly is another strategy to help avert a dental emergency.

When should you schedule professional cleaning?

A veterinary dentistry specialist from a Sacramento animal hospital should do a yearly checkup on your pet to document abnormal conditions such as periodontal disease, cracked or rotted teeth, tumors, ulcers, and so on. Professional dental cleanings necessitate anesthesia for your pet to ensure that the competent and qualified operator can remove dirt from underneath the gum line (subgingivally).

Is anesthesia necessary in dental cleaning?

Pet owners are not surprisingly apprehensive when their dogs require anesthesia. The dentist must put the pet under general anesthesia to do an extensive periodontal evaluation, dental radiography, scaling and polishing, gingival curettage, and root planing. An endotracheal tube supplies anesthetic gas and oxygen, providing pain-free treatments while safeguarding the airways from aspirating fluids or debris. Anesthesia-free dentistry is not recommended for various factors, including significant patient and operator safety issues.

What to Expect in an Emergency Room

A vet will analyze the severity of your pet’s issue to determine the order in which patients should go first. The most life-threatening concerns are addressed first, followed by less severe cases. Before meeting the vet, a nurse might take your dog or cat’s history and examine vital signs.

The ER’s primary concern is to stabilize your pet, so your pet may require to be admitted to the emergency pet clinic or transferred to your regular veterinarian. Your pet may be referred to a veterinary professional for a more thorough assessment or operation. Inquire about any home care or rechecks if your pet can return home.

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