Dental Care Clone
Pet Dental Care — Dogs & Cats | Long Island, NY
West Hills Animal Hospital & Emergency Center | 800 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743 | Diagnostics available 24/7 | (631) 351-6116
Dental disease is the single most commonly diagnosed health problem in pets — affecting over 70% of cats and dogs by the age of three. Yet it remains one of the most under-treated conditions in veterinary medicine, largely because pet owners do not realize how significantly it impacts their animal’s overall health.
Dental disease is not just about bad breath. Oral bacteria do not stay in the mouth. They enter the bloodstream and directly damage the heart, kidneys, and liver over time. At West Hills Animal Hospital, we treat dental disease as the systemic health threat it is — not a cosmetic concern.
Signs Your Pet May Have Dental Disease
Pets cannot tell you when their teeth hurt. By the time a dental problem becomes obvious, it is often already serious. Watch for these signs:
- Persistent bad breath — not just 'dog breath', but a noticeably foul odor
- Difficulty chewing, dropping food, or favoring one side of the mouth
- Reduced appetite or avoidance of hard food or toys
- Drooling more than usual, or blood-tinged saliva
- Pawing at the mouth or rubbing the face on furniture
- Visibly red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Yellow or brown tartar buildup visible on teeth
- Loose or missing teeth
Any of these signs warrants a dental evaluation. Do not wait until eating stops — by then, significant pain and systemic spread may already have occurred.
Our Dental Services
🦷 Professional Dental Cleaning
Full-mouth scaling above and below the gumline under anesthesia — the only way to safely and thoroughly clean a pet’s teeth and assess the full extent of disease.
📷 Digital Dental Radiography
X-rays of every tooth, including the roots hidden below the gumline. Up to 60% of dental disease in pets is invisible to the naked eye — digital X-rays reveal it.
🔬 Oral Examination & Charting
Complete tooth-by-tooth assessment with periodontal probing, documented in your pet’s record for comparison at future visits.
🏥 Extractions
Surgical extraction of diseased, fractured, or non-viable teeth. Performed under anesthesia with appropriate pain management before, during, and after.
💊 Gum Disease Treatment
Treatment of gingivitis and periodontal disease — including deep cleaning, root planing, and antibiotic therapy where indicated.
🏠 Home Care Guidance
Brushing technique, dental diets, water additives, and approved chews — a practical home care plan tailored to your pet and your schedule.
Why Anesthesia-Free Dentistry Is Not an Option We Offer
You may have seen ‘anesthesia-free’ dental cleaning advertised elsewhere. We do not provide this service — and there is a clinical reason. Without anesthesia, it is impossible to safely clean below the gumline (where the majority of dental disease exists), take accurate dental X-rays, perform periodontal probing, extract diseased teeth, or fully assess every surface of the mouth without causing pain and stress to a conscious animal.
The American Veterinary Dental College opposes anesthesia-free dentistry for the same reasons. At West Hills, we use anesthesia because it is the only way to provide genuinely thorough, safe, and humane dental care.
Your Pet Deserves the Best. We Are Ready Right Now.
800 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington, NY 11743 | Open 24/7, 365 days a year | (631) 351-6116