Pet Dental Care & Oral Health

Veterinarian examines beagle's teeth during pet dental care visit in Midlothian

What you can see on your pet's teeth is the smaller part of the problem. Most dental disease sits below the gumline. At our Midlothian clinic, on Steam Avenue off Midlothian Turnpike, every cleaning is done under anesthesia with full-mouth X-rays, so nothing is missed.

Call (804) 603-9509 or book an oral exam online.

When it's an emergency: Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet has facial swelling with fever, bleeding from the mouth that won't stop, or a jaw injury, or can't close its mouth. Our Midlothian clinic is open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and we don't provide overnight care.

Signs Your Pet's Mouth Needs a Look

Bad breath that doesn't go away.
Red or bleeding gums.
Brown buildup at the gumline.
Chewing on one side, dropping food, or pawing at the face.
A broken or discolored tooth.
Swelling under the eye.

Close-up of cat's teeth being scaled during pet dental cleaning in Midlothian

Exam First, Then the Cleaning

Dental care starts with an awake oral exam. The doctor looks at the teeth and gums and tells you whether a cleaning, treatment, or home care is needed, and why. If a cleaning is needed, it's scheduled as its own procedure.

During the cleaning, your pet is under anesthesia with continuous monitoring. The team takes full-mouth X-rays, cleans above and below the gumline, checks each tooth, and polishes. If a tooth is damaged, the doctor explains what was found; extractions are done under anesthesia with pain control.

Golden retriever with clean teeth after pet dental treatment in Midlothian clinic

Why Anesthesia

Anesthesia-free cleanings only reach the visible surface. They can't clean below the gumline, take X-rays, or find painful problems at the root. AAHA's dental care guidelines call anesthesia-free dentistry unacceptable because it can't match a cleaning done under anesthesia.

If anesthesia worries you, say so. The doctor will explain pre-anesthetic screening and monitoring for your pet's age and health.

Pet owner checks dog's gums at home for signs needing dental care in Midlothian

When a Cleaning Can Wait

Mild tartar with healthy gums and no pain usually doesn't need a cleaning yet. Brushing, dental chews, and a dental diet can slow buildup, and the doctor will check again at the next exam.

Before You Book a "No-Anesthesia" Cleaning in Midlothian

Some grooming and pet-care businesses offer teeth cleaning without anesthesia. In Virginia, dental work on animals is regulated as veterinary practice, so ask who is performing it and whether a veterinarian is involved. Then compare what you'd get: a surface polish, versus X-rays and a cleaning below the gums.

What Drives the Cost

The oral exam has a set fee. A cleaning's cost depends on your pet's size, pre-anesthetic tests, anesthesia time, X-rays, and any extractions or treatment found during the procedure. You get an estimate before the cleaning, and the team calls you if something unexpected comes up. PetfolkCare members get $200 toward a dental cleaning.

"Very kind employees who were gentle with our pup and thorough in explaining everything to us."
— Lisa S., Petfolk client.

Start With an Oral Exam

Book an oral exam at our clinic on Steam Avenue. Call (804) 603-9509 or book online.