Bad Breath Is Rarely Just Bad Breath
If your pet has bad breath, it is easy to brush it off as just one of those things. But the truth is that bad breath in dogs and cats is most often a sign of dental disease, and dental disease is far more than a cosmetic issue. By the time your pet is three years old, there is a high likelihood that some degree of periodontal disease is already present, even if you cannot see it.
At Madison Veterinary Hospital, we take veterinary dental care seriously because the science connecting oral health to systemic health is undeniable. Bacteria from an infected mouth can travel through the bloodstream and cause damage to the heart, kidneys, and liver. Dental disease causes chronic pain that pets are remarkably skilled at hiding. And left untreated, it progresses, making treatment more complex and more costly over time.
The good news is that professional dental care, combined with attention at home, can prevent most of this. Our team is here to help.
Signs Your Pet May Have Dental Disease
Many pets show very subtle signs of oral pain or disease. As a pet owner, knowing what to look for can prompt an earlier conversation with your veterinarian and earlier intervention. Watch for:
- Persistent bad breath that does not improve
- Yellow, brown, or discolored buildup on the teeth
- Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
- Dropping food while eating or chewing on one side of the mouth
- Reluctance to chew hard food or toys that your pet previously enjoyed
- Pawing at the mouth or rubbing the face on surfaces
- Visible broken or missing teeth
- Excessive drooling
- Swelling around the jaw or face
- Changes in appetite or weight loss
If you are noticing any of these signs in a pet from the Madison Heights, Royal Oak, or Warren area, contact us sooner rather than later. Oral pain is real pain, and your pet deserves relief.
What a Professional Dental Cleaning Involves
A professional veterinary dental cleaning is quite different from what you might imagine based on a human dental visit, and it is also quite different from the anesthesia-free dental cleanings offered by some groomers and non-veterinary providers. Here is what happens when your pet comes in for a dental procedure at Madison Veterinary Hospital:
Pre-Anesthetic Exam and Bloodwork
Before any dental procedure, your pet receives a thorough physical exam and pre-anesthetic bloodwork. This allows us to evaluate organ function, check for any underlying health concerns, and confirm that your pet is a safe candidate for anesthesia. We do not skip this step, and we encourage you to ask questions about the results.
Anesthesia
Veterinary dental cleanings require general anesthesia. We know this can feel daunting, and we want to address it directly. Anesthesia is the only way to safely and thoroughly evaluate and clean every surface of your pet’s teeth, probe the gumline for pockets, take dental X-rays, and address any painful or diseased areas. An awake pet cannot hold still for that level of care, and an incomplete cleaning leaves disease behind.
Our anesthesia protocols are designed with your pet’s safety as the absolute priority. Please see the section below for more detail on how we keep your pet safe throughout the procedure.
Full Mouth Dental X-Rays
A significant portion of each tooth exists below the gumline and is invisible to the naked eye. Dental X-rays allow us to evaluate the roots, bone structure, and the health of the entire tooth. Studies show that dental X-rays reveal disease in a meaningful percentage of teeth that appear normal on the surface. We consider full mouth radiographs to be the standard of care, not an optional add-on. To learn more about our digital imaging capabilities, visit our Radiology and Ultrasound page.
Scaling and Polishing
Using ultrasonic scaling equipment, we remove plaque and tartar buildup from every surface of every tooth, including below the gumline where disease-causing bacteria accumulate. After scaling, we polish the teeth to smooth the enamel surface and slow the reattachment of plaque.
Periodontal Probing and Charting
Your veterinarian probes the gumline around each tooth to check for pockets, which are spaces between the tooth and gum caused by bone loss and infection. Pockets are charted and guide treatment decisions.
Extractions and Treatment
If diseased or non-salvageable teeth are identified, your veterinarian will discuss extraction options with you. We will never remove a tooth without communicating with you first when possible, and we will always manage pain appropriately before, during, and after any extractions.
Anesthesia Safety: What We Do to Protect Your Pet
We hear concern about anesthesia from pet owners regularly, and we welcome that conversation. Here is how we approach anesthesia safety at Madison Veterinary Hospital:
Every patient receives pre-anesthetic bloodwork and a physical exam before any procedure. Once your pet is under anesthesia, a dedicated veterinary technician monitors their vitals continuously throughout the procedure. We track heart rate and rhythm, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, body temperature, and depth of anesthesia. An intravenous catheter is placed in every patient, giving us immediate access for fluids and any medications needed. Warming support is provided to help maintain body temperature. We use the same careful, attentive approach for a young healthy patient as we do for an older or higher-risk one.
Our team has performed thousands of procedures over more than 50 years of practice. Your pet is in experienced hands.
Dental Care for Every Life Stage
Puppies and Kittens
The transition from baby teeth to adult teeth is an important window. We check for retained deciduous teeth, evaluate the bite, and establish baseline oral health during early wellness visits. Starting tooth brushing habits early, while your pet is young and adaptable, is one of the best things you can do.
Adult Pets
Most adult dogs and cats benefit from a professional dental cleaning every one to three years, depending on the individual. Some pets accumulate tartar rapidly due to genetics, diet, or anatomy. Others maintain relatively clean teeth with consistent home care. Your veterinarian will assess your pet’s oral health at each wellness exam and make personalized recommendations. We see a high number of small and brachycephalic breeds in the Troy, Berkley, and Sterling Heights area, breeds that are particularly prone to accelerated tartar buildup and early periodontal disease, and for these pets we often recommend annual cleanings from the start.
Senior Pets
Dental disease is nearly universal in senior pets and is one of the most significant sources of chronic pain in older animals. Senior dental procedures require extra attention to anesthesia management, but they are absolutely performed safely and regularly at our practice. Relieving dental pain in a senior pet can have a profound positive impact on their energy, appetite, and quality of life.
At-Home Dental Care Between Visits
Professional cleanings are most effective when paired with consistent at-home care. The gold standard is daily toothbrushing using a pet-safe toothpaste, never human toothpaste, which contains ingredients that are harmful to animals. We are happy to demonstrate proper brushing technique at your next visit.
For pets who resist brushing, there are dental wipes, water additives, dental chews with the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) seal of acceptance, and prescription dental diets that can help slow tartar accumulation. Our team can help you find the right combination of home care tools for your individual pet.
Dental Care Connects to Your Pet’s Whole Health
Following dental procedures, our team may also recommend laser therapy to accelerate oral tissue healing and reduce post-operative discomfort. At Madison Veterinary Hospital, we view dental care as an integral part of whole-pet health, not a separate specialty. When we identify significant dental disease, we often coordinate with our in-house diagnostics and imaging capabilities to get a complete picture of your pet’s health before and after treatment. Our team works collaboratively so that your pet’s dental care fits seamlessly into their broader care plan.
Named one of Newsweek’s Best Veterinary Hospitals in America in both 2025 and 2026 and AAHA-accredited for our commitment to rigorous clinical standards, Madison Veterinary Hospital brings a recognized standard of excellence to every aspect of care, including dental health. Pet owners across the metro Detroit area, from Ferndale and Hazel Park to Troy and Sterling Heights, trust us to provide honest, thorough veterinary care because that is what we have delivered for over half a century. We bring that same standard to every dental procedure we perform.
