Dental disease is the most commonly diagnosed health problem in dogs and cats, and most pets show signs of it by the time they're three years old. The good news is that it's also one of the most preventable. At StayPet, we offer professional veterinary dental cleanings and oral surgery to keep your pet's mouth healthy and their overall health on track.
Because dental health affects far more than just your pet's teeth, we treat oral care as a core part of their total wellness, not an afterthought.
The mouth is the gateway to the rest of the body. Bacteria from untreated dental disease don't stay in the mouth. They enter the bloodstream and have been linked to heart disease, kidney disease, liver problems, and systemic inflammation in dogs and cats. What looks like bad breath and yellow teeth is often a much bigger health issue underneath.
Regular professional pet dental cleanings are one of the most impactful things you can do for your pet's long-term health. They remove the plaque and tartar buildup that home brushing can't fully address, allow for a thorough oral exam, and catch problems early when they're easiest to treat.
Studies estimate that by age three, over 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats show signs of periodontal disease. Most owners don't know it's happening because pets instinctively hide pain. Regular dental exams and cleanings are the most reliable way to stay ahead of it.
StayPet provides a full range of veterinary dental care for dogs and cats, including:
A thorough pet dental cleaning requires general anesthesia. This is not optional, and it's not something to be afraid of. Anesthesia allows our team to clean every surface of every tooth safely and without stress to your pet, including the areas below the gum line where most disease develops. It also allows for a complete oral examination that simply cannot be done on an awake animal.
Our dental cleaning process includes:
When a tooth is severely diseased, fractured, or causing pain, extraction is often the most appropriate treatment. We know that sounds significant, but rest assured they are given local anesthetic nerve blocks just like at our own (human) dental offices for pain control as well as injectable pain medications during the procedure. Most pets recover quickly and comfortably after extractions, and many owners are surprised by how much more energetic and comfortable their pet seems once a painful tooth is gone.
For more complex conditions including jaw fractures, oral masses, severe periodontal disease, or palate abnormalities, our team provides veterinary oral surgery and will refer to a board-certified veterinary dentist when specialist-level care is in your pet's best interest.
Full-mouth digital dental X-rays are a standard part of every dental procedure at StayPet. Up to 60 percent of dental disease occurs below the gum line and is invisible without radiographs. We don't skip this step.
Pets are good at hiding discomfort, so you may not notice anything is wrong until dental disease is quite advanced. Watch for:
If you notice any of these signs, schedule a dental exam sooner rather than later. Early intervention almost always means less treatment and better outcomes for your pet.
You don't need to wait for symptoms to schedule a pet dental cleaning. Annual or biannual cleanings are recommended for most dogs and cats as part of routine preventive care, just like a wellness exam.
We know anesthesia can feel like a big deal. Here's how we handle your pet's dental day at StayPet:
What makes StayPet different is that your pet's care doesn't exist in isolation. Vet care, rehabilitation, boarding, daycare, and grooming all happen under one roof, with one team that actually knows your animal.
On the same visit, your pet can:
You won't find that combination at a lot of practices. At StayPet, it's just how we're set up.
We call it VetCare + StayCare, and there's nothing else quite like it in Maryland.
Anesthesia is required for a complete, safe dental cleaning in animals. Pets cannot hold still for the instruments needed to clean below the gum line, and attempting to do so would be stressful and potentially dangerous. Anesthesia also allows us to take full-mouth radiographs and do a thorough oral exam that simply isn't possible on an awake patient. Anesthesia-free dental cleanings may remove visible surface tartar but miss the areas where disease actually develops.
Most dogs and cats benefit from a professional dental cleaning once a year. Some pets, particularly small breeds, dogs with crowded dentition, and brachycephalic breeds, may need more frequent care. Your vet will give you a recommendation based on your individual pet's oral health.
Yes, with proper screening and monitoring. We run pre-anesthetic bloodwork on every patient and evaluate each case individually. Age alone is not a reason to avoid a dental procedure. In fact, untreated dental disease in senior pets poses significant health risks that often outweigh the anesthetic risk of a well-monitored procedure.
If we find something unexpected during the procedure that requires an extraction, we will attempt to contact you if that is your preference. Most pets recover from extractions comfortably and quickly, and many owners notice their pet is noticeably more comfortable and energetic within days of having a painful tooth removed.
Yes, and we strongly encourage it. Daily tooth brushing is the single most effective thing you can do at home to slow the buildup of plaque and tartar between professional cleanings. We can show you how at your pet's next appointment. Dental chews, water additives, and dental diets can also play a supporting role. Check out VOHC.org website for valuable resources!
Often you won't, because pets instinctively hide pain. That's why regular dental exams matter so much. Signs that something may be wrong include bad breath, changes in eating habits, dropping food, pawing at the mouth, or reluctance to play with chew toys. When in doubt, schedule an exam.
StayPet is located at 1209 Old Dorsey Rd, Harmans, MD 21077, just minutes from BWI Airport and easily accessible from:
