No Pain, Know Health

Dentistry for dogs and cats.

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Dentistry at Morris Animal Hospital

Doing an examination ensures your pet is in good health and allows us to perform pre-anesthetic bloodwork. We look at white and red blood cell count, platelets, as well as organ function in order to minimize unforeseen risks by making sure your pet is healthy from the inside out!

At Morris Animal Hospital, we believe dental care is about far more than fresh breath. Oral health plays a critical role in your pet’s overall comfort, health, and quality of life. In fact, by the age of three, most dogs and cats show signs of periodontal disease - a painful and progressive condition that can impact the heart, liver, kidneys, and immune system if left untreated. As an AAHA-accredited hospital, we follow the highest standards in veterinary dentistry and anesthesia safety.

Why Does Dental Care Matter? Dental disease is one of the most common medical conditions in dogs and cats. Many pets hide discomfort extremely well. Dental disease may begin with plaque and tartar buildup, but it can quickly progress to painful infection beneath the gumline. Even pets who continue eating normally may still be experiencing pain while chewing.
Common signs of dental disease include:
  • Bad breath
  • Yellow or brown tartar buildup
  • Red or bleeding gums
  • Difficulty chewing
  • Dropping food while eating
  • Pawing at the mouth
  • Excessive drooling
  • Reluctance to play with toys
  • Facial swelling
  • Changes in behavior or appetite
To see images of the different stages of dental disease click here. Please note some images may be graphic.

Doing an examination ensures your pet is in good health and allows us to perform pre-anesthetic bloodwork. We look at white and red blood cell count, platelets, as well as organ function in order to minimize unforeseen risks by making sure your pet is healthy from the inside out!

At Morris Animal Hospital, dental procedures are performed under general anesthesia with advanced monitoring and safety protocols. Unlike cosmetic “awake cleanings,” a professional veterinary dental procedure allows us to fully evaluate and treat disease both above and below the gumline. AAHA specifically supports anesthesia-based dentistry because it allows for proper diagnostics, treatment, pain control, and airway protection. Our comprehensive dental procedures include:
  • Full oral examination
  • Ultrasonic scaling above and below the gumline
  • Periodontal probing
  • Dental charting
  • Polishing of all teeth
  • Dental radiographs
  • Tooth extractions when necessary
  • Pain management tailored to your pet
  • Detailed home care recommendations
 What Makes Our Dental Cleanings Different

Doing an examination ensures your pet is in good health and allows us to perform pre-anesthetic bloodwork. We look at white and red blood cell count, platelets, as well as organ function in order to minimize unforeseen risks by making sure your pet is healthy from the inside out!

IV Catheter Placement & Intravenous Fluids

Every patient receives an IV catheter and intravenous fluids during their dental procedure to support blood pressure, hydration, and overall safety under anesthesia. This also provides immediate access for medications and emergency support if needed.

Endotracheal Tube Placement

Your pet is safely intubated with a cuffed endotracheal tube during anesthesia to protect the airway and prevent fluids or debris from entering the lungs.

Advanced Monitoring Throughout Anesthesia

Throughout the procedure, your pet is continuously monitored by trained veterinary professionals using advanced equipment to track heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, breathing, and temperature. This allows us to maintain the highest level of anesthetic safety and patient care.

Dental Extractions

When diseased or damaged teeth are causing pain or infection, extraction may be the healthiest option. Our team performs gentle surgical extractions with comprehensive pain management before, during, and after the procedure.

Anesthesia combines sedatives and anesthetic agents to keep your pet asleep and comfortable. They receive an injection to help them relax, and then an IV to help them drift completely asleep. Once the procedure is finished, anesthetic medication will be slowly reduced and your pet will wake up.

At Morris Animal Hospital, we take pride in comprehensive monitoring while your pet is under anesthesia. A registered veterinary technician has trained eyes and ears on them at all times with the help of machines to monitor EKG, blood pressure, temperature, and blood oxygen level.

Continued Care After Your Pet’s Dental Procedure

Recovery & Pain Management

Your pet’s comfort is a top priority throughout their dental procedure and recovery. Every dental cleaning at Morris Animal Hospital includes laser therapy to help reduce inflammation, minimize discomfort, and promote faster healing after the procedure.

Pain management may also include local anesthetic nerve blocks, injectable pain medications, and customized at-home care recommendations to ensure a smooth and comfortable recovery. Most pets recover quickly and often feel significantly better once painful dental disease has been treated.
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Home Dental Care

Professional cleanings are only one part of lifelong dental health. We will work with you to create realistic home care plans that may include:
  • Tooth brushing with Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)-approved toothpaste
  • Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC)-approved dental chews
  • Prescription dental diets
Consistent preventive care can greatly reduce the progression of dental disease and improve your pet’s long-term health.
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Brushing your pet’s teeth, just like brushing yours, helps keep teeth clean, minimize build-up, and reduce bacteria in the mouth. This results in a cleaner mouth, fresher breath, and a reduced risk of losing those teeth later in life.

If your pet struggles with having a toothbrush in their mouth, start slow! Work to desensitize them to being touched on their head, rubbing their snout, and lifting their lips. The more accustomed your pet is to these actions, the more relaxing it will be for something like a toothbrush to be used inside their mouths.

Gold-Standard Dentistry for Gold-Hearted Pets

At Morris Animal Hospital, we are committed to providing dentistry that is safe, thorough, and medically advanced. Our AAHA-accredited standards, advanced dental imaging, anesthesia safety protocols, and compassionate care ensure your pet receives the highest quality dental treatment possible.

Because protecting your pet’s health means caring for every part of them, including their smile!