In honor of February being National Pet Dental Health Month, we thought this story was fitting.  It also serves as a gentle reminder for companion animal lovers to make sure you take care of your pets’ teeth! Just like in humans, neglecting dental care in pets can lead to serious health problems.

The stray cat called “Cute” – an obvious name choice for her – arrived at our shelter on Jan. 12. She was estimated to be 10 years old, and she was already spayed. Cute was showing symptoms of an upper respiratory infection that required treatment, and she was also suffering from significant dental disease.

Upon recovering from her upper respiratory infection, our medical team ran blood tests to see if she'd be cleared for a dental procedure. She got the green light, and one of our certified veterinary technicians performed a thorough cleaning. Although we cannot do dental
X-rays and complex dental extractions in-house, we're able to do routine cleaning and polishing, which can do a lot to alleviate dental discomfort and improve oral health.

Cute still needed follow-up dental care, but she was ready for adoption, and on Feb. 1, Cute found her home!

We’re asking for your help today to replenish our veterinary budget for the next animal who may need a little extra polish and TLC. While it may not be as dramatic as some of our other requests, even routine dental care and simple upper respiratory treatments can impact our budget. We estimate we invested approximately $750 into Cute's care and treatment during her stay with us.

Please help another animal smile again with a gift today!