Why is dental care important for pets?

Pet dental care is crucial for preventing painful oral health issues like gum disease and tooth loss. It also supports your pet's overall health by reducing the risk of infections that can spread to the heart, liver, and kidneys.

What dental services do you offer for pets?

We offer dental exams under anesthesia, digital dental X-rays, professional cleanings, polishing, fluoride treatment, and tooth extractions when necessary.

What are signs of dental problems in pets?

Common signs include bad breath, difficulty eating, drooling, red or swollen gums, loose or broken teeth, and reluctance to chew or play with toys.

How often should my pet receive a dental cleaning?

Most pets benefit from an annual dental cleaning, though some may need more frequent care depending on their age, breed, and dental health.

Do you follow AAHA dental care guidelines?

Yes, our veterinary team follows AAHA guidelines to ensure your pet receives safe, effective, and high-quality dental care at every visit.

Pet Dental Care

Pet Dental Cleaning for Cats & Dogs in Dundee, Elgin, & Algonquin, IL

Pet dental care is not just a cosmetic solution for whitening your pet’s teeth and freshening their breath. It also plays a major role in preventing painful and possibly debilitating oral health problems. Brushing your pet’s teeth every day may seem like over-attentive behavior, but it can significantly reduce plaque and tartar buildup. Furthermore, this habit can prevent conditions such as gingivitis and gum disease from ever developing. Dundee Animal Hospital offers complete, customized pet dental care programs to prevent future issues and treat existing ones. Our skilled veterinarians and technicians closely follow all AAHA guidelines when performing pet dentistry and related services.

Your pet’s dental health is directly connected to their overall health. If their mouth is inflamed and showing signs of infection, they also likely have problems elsewhere. Creating a dental care plan is an important first step towards giving your pet a healthier, happier life.

Pet Dental Care Services

Brushing your cat or dog’s teeth daily improves their oral hygiene, but pet dental care includes other important aspects. Our Dundee, Algonquin and Elgin veterinary teams can:

Conduct complete oral exams while your pet is under anesthesia to check above and below their gum line for hidden problems. Most dental issues take place under the gum line, where bacteria can collect unseen and cause painful infections.
Take dental X-ray images of the entire oral cavity to detect tooth fractures, pockets, damage to surrounding bone, and other problems.
Perform prophylactic dental cleanings on teeth that are generally healthy. This involves scaling each individual tooth with an ultrasonic scaling tool to remove calculus (hardened plaque).
Polish teeth after a cleaning to smooth the surface of each tooth, then follow with a fluoride treatment to prevent future plaque and tartar buildup.
Perform dental extractions to remove unsalvageable teeth.

Signs of Cat or Dog Gum Disease

Gum disease is a painful condition in which the gums become inflamed and bacteria collects in pockets around the teeth. This leads to infection, and can also result in tooth and bone loss if left untreated. In more extreme cases, the bacteria can enter the bloodstream and affect the heart, liver and kidneys. A majority of dogs and cats in the U.S. suffer from some form of gum disease. However, this problem can be prevented easily with daily teeth brushing, annual checkups, and dental cleanings recommended by your veterinarian.

Is your pet showing any of these signs? Be sure to let us know if you’re concerned about your pet’s dental health. The sooner we can treat their problem, the happier and healthier they’ll be.

Why People Trust Dundee Animal Hospital

For over 60 years, Dundee Animal Hospital has built a strong legacy of veterinary excellence, with each generation of staff passing down invaluable knowledge and experience. Today, that legacy empowers our skilled doctors and dedicated support team to deliver outstanding care for a wide variety of pets—including dogs, cats, birds, pocket pets, and exotic animals.

With a commitment to innovation and compassion, our hospitals in Dundee, Elgin, and Algonquin, IL, continue to raise the standard of care for both pets and their owners. We offer high-quality veterinary medicine, helpful educational resources, and exclusive promotions for our clients.

We invite you to learn more about us—and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us at (847) 278-9942.

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Jillian E

1 day ago

I brought my soul dog in for an emergency visit on a Friday night and the day I've dreaded for 12 years finally came. Kerry the emergency tech and Dr. Gurevich were so incredibly kind and empathetic to me and my girl. They gave me time and sweet, wise words and sent a beautiful card in the mail the following week. The front desk staff was also wonderful to me. I wish the circumstances were different but I very much appreciate how the staff took care every step of the way. Everyone hug your sweet furry ones for me, and if you need a place to go I wholeheartedly recommend Dundee Animal Hospital <3

Linda Gottschall

2 days ago

Dundee Animal Hospital has been our veterinary choice for over 20 years and 3 dogs, both in the Dundee and Algonquin locations. Dr. O'Brien has helped guide us through the challenges of caring for our aging pets and new pups. She has always taken the time to fully explain our pets' conditions and has been prompt in notifying us of lab results, ensuring a trust in quality of service. Highly recommended.

Pamela Gail

4 days ago

Thank you to the friendly lady at the front desk, the great vet tech who helped me out to the car, and especially Dr. O'Brien, who takes such wonderful care of my precious Raven II. I appreciate all of you, and even though Raven was upset about having to come in, she's just being a cat. You know deep down inside she appreciates you all too! She knows very well how much better she feels after her visits 🙂

Teresa Baumgartner

1 week ago

I can not thank them enough ❤️❤️ Dr Lupo and his Tech (I believe her name is Brie) literally saved my dogs life Saturday. He's been going there for 11 years and had a reaction to a vaccine that's he's had many times. Brie's quick response to something she knew didn't seem right and Dr Lupo's care they saved my dog's life. I can't thank them enough ❤️