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22320 Salamo Rd, West Linn, OR 97068

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VETERINARY DENTISTRY IN WEST LINN, OR

Your Pet’s Dental Procedure:

The Cascade Summit Way

Periodontal disease is the most common oral disease in dogs and cats—and the most overlooked pet disease.

Did you know that more than 85% of dogs and cats over four years old have some form of periodontal disease? If left untreated, it worsens over time and can seriously impact your pet’s overall health. Studies show that chronic oral infections are linked to diseases of the kidneys, heart, and liver—especially in senior cats.

Cute fluffy black and white cat

At Cascade Summit Animal Hospital, we perform comprehensive veterinary dental checkups in West Linn as an essential part of your pet’s wellness care.

Does Your Pet Have Bad Breath?

Since cats and dogs rarely cooperate for at-home mouth inspections, early signs of oral disease can easily be missed. During your pet’s wellness exam, our veterinarian will check for periodontal disease and may recommend a professional dental cleaning if needed.

Although periodontal disease is common, the good news is that when detected early, it can be reversed with professional cleaning and consistent at-home dental care.

What’s Included in Your Pet’s Dental Procedure

We include several services during your pet’s dental procedure that are not offered at many hospitals, such as:

  • Intravenous fluids throughout the procedure to maintain hydration and blood pressure, followed by one hour of post-operative fluid therapy
  • Pre-anesthetic blood work to detect potential organ dysfunction
  • Safe, multimodal anesthesia for smoother recovery
  • Continuous monitoring of blood pressure, oxygen, heart rate, temperature, and breathing
  • A Bair Hugger™ heating blanket to maintain optimal body temperature
  • Two staff members (including the veterinarian) will be by your pet’s side throughout the procedure
  • Digital dental radiographs to assess health below the gumline
  • Local anesthetic for any necessary extractions
  • Heated recovery kennels monitored by staff as your pet wakes up
  • Pain-relieving medication before and after the procedure for optimal comfort

These services are provided in addition to standard hospital protocols, which include:

  • A complete pre-anesthetic physical exam
  • Scaling and polishing of all teeth
  • Use of a high-speed dental drill for efficient tooth extraction
  • Appropriate antibiotics when infection is present

Every anesthetic procedure carries some risk, but our enhanced safety measures and attentive care minimize those risks as much as modern veterinary medicine allows.

We want your pet to go home with more than just a clean mouth, with a body and mind as healthy and happy as when they arrived that morning. We go the extra mile for you!

For more information on why non-anesthetic dental cleaning is inappropriate for pets, please visit AAHA.org.

Frequently Asked Questions About Veterinary Dentistry

Why does my pet need a professional dental cleaning if their teeth look fine?
While your pet’s teeth may look clean on the surface, periodontal disease actually develops beneath the gumline where you cannot see it. More than 85% of dogs and cats over four years old suffer from oral disease. Left untreated, hidden bacteria multiply and enter the bloodstream, which scientific studies have linked to irreversible damage to your pet’s kidneys, heart, and liver. Regular checkups and cleanings prevent these serious secondary health conditions.
Can you clean my pet's teeth without using general anesthesia?
No, we do not perform non-anesthetic dental cleanings, and organizations like the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) strictly advise against them. Safely performing a true medical cleaning requires scaling beneath the gumline, extracting painful teeth, and taking digital dental radiographs (x-rays), which is impossible to do on an awake animal. Anesthesia eliminates fear and pain, protects your pet’s airway from loose bacteria, and allows our West Linn veterinary team to be thorough and efficient.
What diagnostic tools do you use during a pet dental procedure?
At Cascade Summit Animal Hospital, we utilize state-of-the-art digital dental radiographs during every single oral procedure. Just like in human dentistry, standard visual checks only show a small portion of the tooth. X-rays allow us to look directly at the internal roots and surrounding jawbone, which is how we accurately detect tooth decay, painful root abscesses, bone loss, and hidden jaw fractures that are completely invisible from the outside.
What advanced safety measures are included during my pet's dental work?
We go the extra mile by including comprehensive medical support that many other clinics do not. Your pet’s procedure includes pre-anesthetic blood work, continuous IV fluid therapy during and after the cleaning to protect blood pressure, a specialized Bair Hugger™ heating blanket, and dedicated heated recovery kennels. Furthermore, a minimum of two trained medical staff members—including the veterinarian—remain continuously at your pet’s side monitoring vital signs from start to finish.