The novel coronavirus outbreak has many people worried for their health and the health of their families and pets. Concerned owners in China have even started putting face masks on their cats when outdoors to minimize the risk of exposure. Should you be worried about your pet? In a word, no.

​The current outbreak is caused by a novel coronavirus named Sars-CoV-2, that causes a disease known as COVID-19. As of February 18, the World Health Organization reports it has infected over 73,000 people and caused almost 1900 deaths. That's a lot of people, but let's put it in perspective: the CDC estimates that there have been at least 26,000,000 (yes, million) cases of influenza since October 2019 and at least 14,000 deaths this season here in the United States alone. Companion animals like cats and dogs don't become ill from COVID-19, but it is conceivable that they could carry the virus from one person to another. So a person infected with COVID-19 should minimize contact with their pets to protect other people in the household.

The best protection against viruses is to wash your hands frequently, avoid touching your nose and mouth, and use alcohol-based hand sanitizers after touching public objects (like doorknobs). Stay home if you are ill, and if you are coughing or sneezing in public cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or your elbow to minimize the spray. 

So as we all practice social distancing to slow the human spread of COVID-19, there's no reason to panic for our pets. Practicing good hygiene and limiting exposure to sick people and animals are reasonable precautions, but there's no need to fit your cat with a mask. (A disappointing fact: surgical masks don't actually block virus particles. Only properly fitted N95 masks can do that, and those should be reserved for medical personnel caring for sick people. Paper surgical masks will remind you not to touch your mouth and nose while you're wearing them, and do block most of the droplets from spreading to others when you cough or sneeze. So they're the considerate thing to wear if you are feeling ill and don't want to share your infection with others.)

Show us your best dog or cat grin - are those teeth pearly white? Is that breath fresh? The answer should be yes to both!

You can't have a healthy body without a healthy mouth. Rotten teeth cause pain in our pets, even though they won't show it. Very few animals will stop eating due to oral pain. They will mostly just slow down, or perhaps change the amount of time they spend with toys. 

First step: a comprehensive oral exam and treatment. Because our patients won't open wide and say 'aah', this must be done under sedation. Just like a fear-free human dentist uses medications to relax those of us who are dental-phobes, a light anesthesia relaxes your pet so they aren't stressed and don't experience any pain during the procedure. As an AAHA-accredited practice, you can be sure that we have your pet's safety top of mind at all times. Each patient is continuously monitored by a dedicated team member from the moment of induction through to recovery.  

What will we find?
We like to find healthy teeth under a small amount of tartar, with healthy gums that are pink and sharp-edged. Dental xrays will show us healthy roots and bone. These procedures are the shortest and least invasive, and our pets wake refreshed with healthy mouths and fresh breath. An optional dental sealant provides up to 6 months of extra protection against periodontal disease.

What else can we find? Unfortunately, most of our dental procedures reveal disease of some kind.

• ​gingivitis: swollen red gums
• pockets: when infection travels along the tooth root under the gum line
• root exposure: chronic infection leads to loss of gum and bone
• loose teeth: this is the end stage of periodontal disease, when the supporting structures around the tooth have been destroyed by infection
• tongue or cheek ulcers or wounds
• growths: lumps inside the mouth can be either cancerous or non-cancerous, and biopsy is required to tell the best course of treatment
• swollen tonsils or lymph nodes
• foreign objects: we've removed hair, pieces of acorn, and even sticks!
• laryngeal changes: some patients develop problems with the soft tissues around their larynx as they age, leading to swallowing or breathing changes

All of these problems required advanced procedures, from root planing to extraction to oral surgery.

After we've done our job, it's up to you. Daily home care will keep your pet's mouth healthy.