Show us your chompers! It’s Dental Month at Lethbridge Pet Hospital, and we’re all smiles when it comes to helping your pets keep their teeth healthy and strong for years to come. Dental health plays a huge role in your pet’s overall wellbeing, so it’s never something to brush off.
After all the indulgence of the holidays (for pets and people!), now is the perfect time to refocus on good dental habits. Whether it’s brushing at home, choosing the right dental treats, or scheduling a professional cleaning, small steps can make a big difference in preventing pain, infection, and costly issues down the road.
In this month’s newsletter, we’re sharing our top tips for keeping your pet’s mouth clean, introducing our brave Pet Patient of the Month, and highlighting a few fun moments from January around the clinic that made us smile.
Warmly,
Madeleine
Practice Manager
Pet Patient of the Month – Ruger
After going through quite the ordeal, Ruger is our pet of the month! He arrived to us critically ill, suffering from severe liver disease, with toxin ingestion suspected as the cause. He was hospitalized immediately and received intensive care from our team.
At his recheck, we were overjoyed to see a completely different Ruger—happy, bright, full of energy, and eager to greet every staff member with affection. Moments like this remind us why we do what we do and how powerful timely care, dedication, and a whole lot of love can be. Thank you to Ruger’s humans for trusting us with his care!
Pet Tip of the Month – Keeping Your Pet’s Teeth Clean
Just like us, cats and dogs need professional dental cleanings to keep their mouths healthy. These cleanings allow us to remove plaque and tartar that can’t be safely managed at home. Once your pet’s teeth are clean, maintaining good oral hygiene becomes much easier—and makes a big difference in preventing future dental disease.
Here are our top three ways to maintain your pet’s dental health at home:
- Brush regularly
Brushing your pet’s teeth is the gold standard of dental care. Aim to brush at least every other day using a pet-specific toothbrush and toothpaste. Never use human toothpaste—it can be harmful to pets if swallowed. Even short, gentle brushing sessions can go a long way!
- Feed dental-specific diets
Certain veterinary dental diets are specially formulated with an enzyme coating and unique kibble texture that help reduce plaque and tartar buildup as your pet chews. Ask our team if a dental diet might be a good option for your pet.
- Choose safe, effective dental chews
Not all dental chews are created equal. Look for safe, veterinarian-approved chews that take your pet at least 15 minutes to chew through—this chewing action helps mechanically clean the teeth and massage the gums.
These simple steps are key to maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Poor oral health doesn’t just cause bad breath—it can lead to pain, tooth loss, and even affect the heart, liver, and kidneys. When it comes to dental disease, prevention truly is the best medicine.
If you have questions about your pet’s dental health or would like help choosing the right products, our team is always happy to help!
Tail Talk: This Month’s Top Moments
We are open earlier for you and your pets! If your furry friend has a surgery or dental procedure booked, you can now drop them off starting at 7:30 AM, giving you a little extra flexibility in your morning. Our first appointments of the day start at 8:30 AM.
We hope these new hours make your mornings smoother and your pet’s visits even more convenient. Stop by and see us—you might even catch a sleepy tail wag or two!
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and our clinic is feeling the love! This month, our lobby has been transformed into the ultimate kissing booth so you can capture your true love—the one with fur, paws, and unconditional devotion.
Our reception team has a blast changing up our photo spot for every holiday, and we’d love for your sweetheart pet to be part of the fun. Be sure to stop by, strike a pose, and ask one of us to snap a photo for you—we’re always happy to help you capture a little extra love!
We’re so lucky to have Tiva and Elnaz as part of the Lethbridge Pet Hospital team—their passion, experience, and love for animals truly shine.
After running their own veterinary hospital in Iran, they’ve quickly become an integral part of our clinic. Get to know them in our Staff Saturday posts on Instagram and Facebook, with more team spotlights coming soon!