So your pet has been diagnosed with periodontal disease.  Let’s take a moment to learn more about what’s going on.  Periodontal disease occurs when bacteria gets beneath the gum line destroying tissue surrounding the teeth.  Left untreated, your pet could lose teeth.  Additionally, bacteria fastering in the gums can enter the bloodstream and travel to the kidneys, heart, and liver causing serious health issues, reducing quality of life, and even shortening lifespan.  So it’s important to address this issue right away.  Treatment for periodontal disease starts with the thorough teeth cleaning performed under general anesthesia.  Anesthesia is important because the most serious health concerns are caused by disease beneath the gum line, which can only be detected and treated while under general anesthesia.  It also ensures that your pet doesn’t feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure.  We may recommend other treatments based on your pet situation.  These may include things like dental x-rays, removal of any loose, broken, or infected teeth, antibiotics, pain medication, and at home follow-up care.  It’s important to keep in mind that periodontal disease can only be treated, not cured.  So after your pet’s dental cleaning it will be important to regularly brush their teeth and periodically have their teeth professionally cleaned by our team at Galena Veterinary Care, and as always don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.