June 2019
Dental hygiene is probably the last thing on the mind of every dog on earth when it wakes up in the morning. Unfortunately, “Veterinarians report that an estimated 85% of dogs over age 4 are suffering from some form of periodontal disease.” (Source: Animalplanet.com.)
To the rescue comes Mighty Bites, a company that has been around since 2009 and was recently introduced to Southern Oregon in 2016. They provide a non-anesthetic teeth cleaning service for dogs and cats in Southern Oregon under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
“We are here to provide you and your pets with an economical, low risk alternative for oral health,” said manager Shannon Bifano. “Our pet dental technicians are specially trained to use relaxation and training techniques to calm the animals to allow us to clean their teeth. We have a kind and gentle approach to providing a very thorough teeth cleaning for pets. We believe all pet owners should have a choice on whether they would like to use anesthesia or not. Now you have that option!”
Mighty Bites is available by appointment only and has clinics on certain Saturdays in Grants Pass at the Lincoln Road Veterinary Clinic and Fridays in Jacksonville. Pet owners bring their dog or cat into the clinic at their scheduled time and one of the team’s highly skilled dental technicians hand-scales every surface of each tooth, polishes and rinses. The whole process usually takes about 45 minutes.
“We never give your pet any medication or drugs of any kind,” Shannon said. “From a behavioral standpoint (i.e. severe aggression), we’re able to clean 90-95% of an animal’s teeth. The majority of animals we see require a cleaning about every six months. Each animal is different and due to their genetics, their diets and home care routines, their rate of build-up varies. We highly suggest a good home care routine; brushing, rinsing and chews will help prolong times between cleanings.”
Shannon cautioned that the service is not for all animals and is not a replacement for anesthetic dentistry when required for advanced dental/periodontal disease.
“Anesthesia-free teeth cleanings are a small fraction of the cost of an anesthetic procedure and are considerably safer for your pet,” she said. “Plaque and calculus both cause irritation to the gums, which results in gingivitis, the beginning of periodontal disease. If left too long, it can become very severe, leading to severe pain, tooth loss, abscess and bone loss. It can also cause systemic disease such as heart, liver, and kidney disease. With so much at risk, it’s clear why it’s necessary to keep up on our pet’s oral hygiene.”
For more info or to set up an appointment, call 541-283-5202. You can also see them at Mighty-Bites.com and on Facebook.
