Why dentals?

When you look at your pet, you probably notice their wagging tail or their comforting purr long before you think about their teeth. But as a veterinarian, one of my first commitments is always to preventative medicine  -  protecting your pet's oral health is a massive part of that. At Sajack Animal Hospital, we see firsthand how quickly oral issues can escalate. Periodontal disease (gum disease) affects the vast majority of dogs and cats by the time they turn three years old.

However, dental care isn’t just about a bright white smile or treating a bad case of "dog breath." Left unchecked, bacteria from a hidden mouth infection don't just cause painful inflammation and tooth loss; they enter the bloodstream. From there, they can cause silent, chronic damage to your pet's heart, kidneys, and liver.

Beyond the Surface: What Real Dental Care Looks Like

Animals are hardwired to hide discomfort, meaning cats and dogs often suffer through severe dental pain while continuing to eat and act completely normally. That is why we treat dental health with the highest level of medical rigor. By integrating advanced diagnostics into our routines, we ensure nothing is missed. We often utilize dental care to address:

• Hidden Root Infection: Using digital X-rays to see beneath the gum line where 60% of dental disease hides.

• Chronic Pain Relief: Extracting diseased, broken, or abscessed teeth that cause constant discomfort.

• Systemic Prevention: Removing plaque and tartar scaling to stop bacteria from entering the bloodstream.

• Quality of Life: Restoring the joy of eating and playing for pets who have been quietly suffering.

Sajack dental procedure:

Pre-Surgical Bloodwork
Before anesthesia, we perform pre-surgical bloodwork to evaluate your pet's organ function and ensure it is safe to proceed. This helps us tailor anesthesia specifically to your pet and minimize any risks. You can schedule for a blood draw 1 week up to 2 months prior to the procedure.

Anesthesia & Monitoring
Dental procedures are performed under general anesthesia so we can thoroughly clean below the gumline and take dental X-rays safely and comfortably. Throughout the procedure, your pet will be closely monitored by our trained team, including heart rate, oxygen levels, blood pressure, CO2 and temperature.

Dental Cleaning & Possible Extractions
Once under anesthesia, we will complete a full oral exam, full mouth dental X-rays, scale and polish all of the teeth. If diseased or damaged teeth are identified, extractions may be necessary. Because we cannot fully assess the need for extractions until we evaluate the teeth under anesthesia and review X-rays, the procedure time can vary. Most dental procedures take approximately 1–3 hours, depending on severity and the number of extractions required.

Post-Operative Care & Medications
After the procedure, we will provide pain medications to keep your pet comfortable and support healing if they required any extractions. At Sajack Animal Hospital, we will always provide the high-tech, thorough medical care you expect from a top-tier facility. Our goal remains keeping your best friend healthy, happy, and right by your side here in Northern Colorado.

Our Commitment to Total Wellness

One of the most rewarding things about performing a thorough dental cleaning at Sajack is seeing the transformation afterward. Owners routinely tell us that their pet acts like a puppy or kitten again, showing a surge in energy and playfulness they hadn't realized was missing. It turns out they weren't just "slowing down"—they were just dealing with a chronic toothache. If you've noticed bad breath or think your pet might be due for an oral exam, I'd love to have that conversation with you. Let’s look at their health together.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Peterson