Our Columbus Veterinarians Explain how the Use of Anesthesia During Dental Procedures can help Maintain Healthy Teeth and Gums for Dogs and Cats!

At Hamilton Road Animal Hospital, our team of Columbus veterinarians are dedicated to providing high quality, effective, and safe veterinary services that can help improve the health and well-being of dogs and cats living in and around Columbus, Whitehall, Bexley, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Pickerington, and Groveport. Pet dental care is an essential part of your pet's overall health picture, and at our animal hospital, our skilled veterinary dental team uses general anesthesia to assist with our teeth cleaning procedures. 

Top 3 Reasons why Our Columbus Veterinary Staff Uses Anesthesia During Dental Cleaning for Pets

Anesthesia is a safe and commonly used medication to sedate your pet during various invasive procedures, including surgery and pet dental cleanings.

1. It keeps your pet safe, relaxed, and pain-free. Imagine how you feel at the dentist with all those metal tools, liquids, and other items going in and out of your mouth. Now imagine how scary that would be if you didn't understand what was happening! Anesthetizing your dog or cat prior to a dental exam is the best way to keep your pet calm and comfortable throughout the procedure. Anesthesia is also the only humane and effective way to keep your pet perfectly still, which is extremely important during most dental procedures, when any sudden movement could lead to accidental injury or harm to your pet.
2. It keeps our staff safe. By anesthetizing your pet, we'll be keeping our own staff members safe and eliminating the risk of aggressive behaviors from a frightened pet. 
3. It improves quality of care. When your cat or dog is put under general anesthesia, our Columbus veterinarians are able to thoroughly examine and clean your pet's entire mouth--especially those hard-to-reach places that you can't get to very well while brushing your pet's teeth. A comprehensive visual examination is necessary to clearly identify and address any problem areas with your pet's teeth or gums, and would be virtually impossible to do if your pet was not sedated. 

What to Expect Before, During, and After Your Dog's and Cat's Teeth Cleaning Appointment at Hamilton Road Animal Hospital

Before you bring your pet in for any pet dental care procedure, our Columbus veterinary team will perform a pet wellness exam to determine the overall health of your pet and to ensure that anesthesia is safe to use on your cat or dog. We may also ask that you withhold food from your pet at least 12 hours prior to the dental procedure appointment.

On the day of the dental procedure, your pet will be treated with utmost respect in a calm and caring environment. While your pet is under general anesthesia, our staff will be closely monitoring your pet to ensure that the medications are working effectively. 

After the procedure, our staff will closely monitor your pet until it's ready to go home. We'll review with you how to care for your pet as the anesthesia wears off. For instance, it's normal for your dog or cat to be a little groggy, and a little less active than normal while it recuperates. We'll also inform you about certain signs or symptoms that may indicate an adverse reaction, though the risk of these happening are rare. 

Is your dog or cat due for a teeth cleaning? Call Hamilton Road Animal Hospital today at 614-239-0027 to learn more about our dental care services for pets or to schedule an appointment. We're proudly serving pet owners and their dogs and cats from Columbus, Whitehall, Bexley, Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, Pickerington, and Groveport, OH.