For more information on dental cleaning or the cons of anesthesia free dental click the link below.

http://www.avdc.org/ownersinfo.html

​Anesethia Free Dental-Know The Facts: http://avdc.org/AFD/reasons-not-to-choose-anethesia-free

​Dental Awareness For Owners: http://avdc.org/AFD/category/for-pet-owners/

• Regular dental check ups.
  
• Regular teeth brushing, at least twice a week.
  
• Oral rinse and dental chews to help break up tartar build up.
  
• Provide chew toys that help massage your pet’s gums and keep their teeth clean.
• Annual Dental Cleaning procedures with sedation.
  

PREVENTIVE ORAL CARE & DENTISTRY
The number one health problem diagnosed in cats and dogs over 4 years is periodontal disease. Dental disease puts stress on your pet’s immune system and may lead to serious diseases such as liver, kidney and heart disease. Here at Shield Stone we provide extensive dental care. We recommend the following:

Your pet has reached its “senior years” once they have reached the following ages:

Small Dogs (under 20 lbs.)    9 – 13 Years
Medium Dogs (21-50 lbs.)    9 – 11.5 Years
Large Dogs (51-90 lbs.)    7.5 – 10.5 Years
Extra Large Dogs (Over 90 lbs.)    6 – 9 Years
Most Cats     8 – 10 Years

​​SENIOR - 9 years to 15+ years. Senior Wellness Screening for your Pet (Starting age about 9 years old)

MATURE ADULT – 3 years to 8 years.

Routine wellness exam with proper vaccinations. External (flea) and internal parasite (heart-worm) prevention at all ages.
Routine blood test and urinalysis.
Need formal teeth cleaning under sedation. Call hospital to schedule.
Choose proper diet to prevent weight gain.

YOUNG ADULT – 7 months to 2 years.

Annual exam and vaccinations.
External (flea) and internal parasite (heart-worm) prevention at all ages.
Spay and neuter during this period.
Start to control food intake to prevent obesity.
Maintain brushing teeth at least two times a week.

As your new pet returns to us every 3 weeks for vaccines, we will continue to discuss and schedule the following:

• Initial vaccinations with de-worming series
  
• Stool exam to check for internal parasites
  
• Felv-Fiv test for kittens
  
• Spay or neuter surgery
  
• Diet, nutrition, and feeding the proper foods
  
• House training
  
• Oral care to include early teeth brushing
• External (flea) and internal parasite (heart-worm) prevention at all ages
  
• Proper socialization and basic obedience training
  
• Behavioral problems and concerns, including preventing bad behaviors.  

PUPPY AND KITTEN - 6 weeks to 6 months.

PREVENTIVE MEDICINE

Dental Cleaning:

BEFORE

​​​Shield Stone Pet Hospital 

​​               CareLoveHealing&Joy ​​​

Dental Cleaning:

AFTER

PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS
We recommend to start with a physical examination if your senior pet has not been examined before or has not been examined by a Veterinarian within the last year. However, additional testing/screening may be necessary to detect problems and properly diagnose your pet since physical exams only detect problems that produce clinical signs. However, problems may be caught before clinical signs are present by performing early diagnostic testing such as a blood panel, EKG, etc. By being proactive we hope to catch problems early on.

In addition to screening/testing for serious conditions with blood work we recommend an annual physical examination of your senior pet. A physical exam allows the doctor to check for physical changes such as joint function, muscle wasting, neurological dysfunction, and any lumps or bumps that you may not be aware of.

As pets age and near their senior years it is time to become concerned with problems that are not apparent during routine physical examinations. Without the appropriate testing/screening we would not be able to diagnose internal problems such as diabetes, kidney disease, bladder or urinary tract problems, or other serious problems like heart disease. Unfortunately, without testing these problems are not diagnosed till they are at the advanced stage and the damage is already done.

Here at Shield Stone Pet Hospital, we feel that the senior wellness screening is essential to a having comfortable senior years. Keep in mind that performing these screening/test for your pet once a year is equivalent to once every 5-7 years for a senior adult person.