What Happens During Your Pet’s Teeth Cleaning

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What Happens During Your Pet's Teeth Cleaning

To safeguard the comfort and health of their teeth, gums, and bodies, pets need dental care just like people do! This usually includes a combination of at-home care and professional dental cleanings with a veterinarian.

What to Expect During a Pet Dental Appointment

For your pet’s comfort and safety, pet dental cleanings and examinations take place while pets are fully sedated under general anesthesia. Depending on your pet’s breed, age, medical history, and veterinary records, we might recommend running a diagnostic blood test before your pet’s dental appointment to ensure their liver and kidneys are healthy enough to efficiently process the general anesthesia medications.
If your pet’s lab results are good, we can begin the pet dental appointment by administering a sedative to help your pet relax before we administer the general anesthetic via IV. This anesthetic ensures your pet feels no pain and experiences zero stress during their dental exam and cleaning and also makes it easier for our veterinarian to thoroughly examine and clean your pet’s teeth and gums. We use state-of-the-art equipment to monitor your pet’s vital signs to ensure safety and comfort throughout the examination.
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Other than general anesthesia, a pet dental cleaning and exam is similar to a human’s dental appointment. We scale and polish our patient’s teeth, examine the gums for signs of gum disease, and look for signs of any other potential problems such as cavities, broken teeth, or infections. At this time, we might also take a set of digital dental x-rays to screen for problems that might not be visible to the naked eye, such as issues happening inside your pet’s teeth or below the gum line.
If any serious issues are found, such as severe tooth decay, broken teeth, or abscesses, our veterinarian will take steps to resolve the problems during the dental appointment.
Once your pet’s teeth are cleaned and the examination is complete, we wake your pet from general anesthesia and monitor them closely in recovery. Pets usually return home the same day. We might recommend feeding your pet a soft diet for a few days following their dental cleaning and might also prescribe an anti-inflammatory medication.
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Comprehensive Pet Dentistry in San Diego

At Pacific Pet Hospital, we provide comprehensive dental services to cats and dogs and also provide pet parents with education regarding caring for their pets’ teeth at home between professional dental cleanings and exams.
To learn more about pet dentistry or to schedule a dental appointment for your dog or cat, we welcome you to contact our office today.

Keep Pets Away From These Popular Easter Treats

Keep Pets Away From These Popular Easter Treats

Brightly colored plastic eggs, sweet treats, and blooming flowers — Who doesn’t look forward to the Easter Bunny’s annual visit? Although Easter morning is joyful, many of the things we use to celebrate can harm our pets. These items are even more dangerous when left lying about the house and backyard.

5 Easter Treats to Keep Away From Your Pets

1. Chocolate and Other Sweets

Chocolate and sugar alcohols like xylitol (found in sugar-free sweets) are toxic for pets. Keep pets away from the annual Easter egg hunt and clear all treats off the floor and out of your pet’s reach before they join the party.

2. Lilies, Other Spring Flowers, and Bulbs

Lilies, tulips, hyacinths, daffodils, other spring flowers, and their bulbs are extremely poisonous to pets. Make sure these are kept well away from dogs and cats, and if you have cats, error on the side of caution by never bringing lilies anywhere near your home.

3. Easter Basket Grass

This plastic grass is crunchy and might seem enticing to cats and dogs looking to play, but it can be quite dangerous if ingested. Not only is the plastic bad for your pet’s health, but the long, stringy plastic can get stuck in their digestive system or block it entirely. Use tissue or paper grass instead.

4. Raisins and Nuts

Raisins grapes and certain nuts are highly toxic to cats and dogs. Keep any treats that contain these ingredients (fruit salad, cinnamon rolls, hot cross buns, or cookies) away from your pets.

5. Plastic Eggs

Plastic eggs rattle and squeak, much like the toys our dogs and cats like to play with. These, however, are not designed to be safe for pets. They can splinter into sharp pieces that can cut your pet’s paws or mouth or perforate intestines if ingested.

Always Be Prepared for a Pet Emergency in San Diego

During business hours, our veterinarians at Pacific Pet Hospital will be here to help. On the weekends, however, it’s important that you have an emergency plan in place for your pets. For after-hours emergency care, we refer our patients to the Pet Emergency and Specialty Hospital:
When you have cats, dogs, or both, it’s also smart to keep the information for the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control handy in case your pet ingests a toxic substance.
To learn more about urgent and emergency pet care or how to protect your pets around the holidays, we welcome you to contact our veterinarians at Pacific Pet Hospital.

How to Keep Your Pet Warm on Winter Walks

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How to Keep Your Pet Warm on Winter Walks

January is National Walk Your Pet Month! Yet, in the northern hemisphere, it’s one of the coldest months and the time when you would prefer not to play outside. Despite the blustery weather, dogs still need to go outside for bathroom breaks and exercise. Consider the following tips to keep your dog warm and safe on winter walks.

6 Tips for Warm Winter Walks with Your Dog

1. Shorter, More Frequent Walks

If your dog is sensitive to the cold, consider going for shorter walks more frequently throughout the day. They’ll still get the same amount of exercise, but you and your dog will be able to warm up inside in between.

2. Add a Sweater

If your dog has short fur or is sensitive to the cold, they can wear a sweater or winter jacket that will insulate them against the cold. Just make sure the apparel is dry before going outdoors and never leave a pet unattended while wearing a piece of clothing.

3. Consider Your Dog's Breed

Some breeds are better suited to cold weather than others. For example, Siberian huskies and Alaska malamutes can tolerate cold better than chihuahuas or Dobermans.

4. Stay Dry

Even in relatively warm winter weather, a wet dog can get cold. During the winter, it’s best to keep your pet from getting wet on walks and playtime outdoors. During the winter, bathe your pets indoors only and make sure their fur is completely dry before heading out to play.

5. Wash Paws

If you and your dog visit any areas with freezing weather, be mindful of antifreeze, ice melt, and sidewalk salt. When pets go for walks, these substances can get stuck to their paws. Then, dogs might lick them off. These contain toxins that can be irritating to paws and very harmful if ingested. Be sure to wash and dry your pet’s paws first thing after you come inside from a frosty winter walk.

6. Too Cold for You Is Too Cold for Your Pet

The idea that cats or dogs have more resistance to the cold than people just because they wear natural fur coats is not accurate. If it’s too cold outside for you, then it’s too cold for your pet. Try to minimize time outside in extreme weather and find ways to stay active indoors.

Schedule a Winter Checkup at Pacific Pet Hospital

Whether or not you plan to visit any snowy states with your pet this winter, it’s important to keep regular wellness in check. Schedule your pet’s annual preventative care appointment to ensure all of their vaccines are current and they’re well-prepared for the beginning of parasite season which will be here before we know it.

New Year’s Resolutions to Help Your Pet Live Longer

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New Year's Resolutions to Help Your Pet Live Longer

It’s January, and the time of year when we all traditionally make a fresh start. If you have yet to choose a resolution, why not pick one that benefits your pet, too? With these pet-friendly New Year’s resolution ideas, you can help your pet live a long, healthy life!

5 Pet-Friendly New Year's Resolutions

1. Measure Your Pet's Food (At Every Meal)

Most cats and dogs don’t stop eating when they’re full; they stop eating when their food is gone. So, it’s up to you to control your pet’s portions to help them maintain a healthy weight. Purchase a measuring cup for your pet’s food, follow the weight-based portion guidelines on your pet’s food, and talk with our veterinarian about selecting a food for your pet.

2. Get More Exercise

Exercise combats weight gain and also keeps pets mobile and healthy. Whether you have a dog or cat, resolve to get more exercise with your pet by going for more frequent walks or incorporating more play sessions. The increased activity will keep your pet entertained, happy, and healthy, and it’ll be good for your health, too!

3. Learn a New Trick

You can enrich your pet’s life, keep them mentally active, and also help them be well-behaved by working with them to learn new tricks and training. Both cats and dogs alike will benefit from positive reinforcement training. Sign up for a class with your pup or get a clicker and training treats to work with your cat or dog at home.

4. Update Your Pet's ID

No matter how careful you are, the risk of a pet being lost or stolen is always present. Make sure your pet’s well-protected and increase the chances that they’ll be returned to you by getting a pet microchip and updating your information in the microchip database.

5. Schedule a Well Check

Don’t forget to schedule your pet’s annual or bi-annual wellness appointment. Annual appointments are essential for keeping your pet’s vaccinations up-to-date and ensuring any potential health problems are addressed as soon as they arise.

Wellness and Preventative Veterinary Care in San Diego

Don’t forget to schedule your pet’s annual wellness and preventative care appointment with our veterinarian at Pacific Pet Hospital in San Diego. We’ll examine your pet, update vaccinations, help you select the best parasite preventatives for your pet, and talk with you about all the things you can do on a daily basis to fortify your pet’s health. To learn more about our veterinary services or to schedule your pet’s yearly appointment, contact us today.