“All COHATs are dental procedures but not all dental procedures are COHATs”
The combination of processed pet foods (very nutritious but not optimal for dental health) and the fact that pets can’t tell us when their mouths hurt (and often don’t show pain even when it does) typically means that by the time a pet is seen for a COHAT a large amount of pathology already exists. COHAT costs are reflective of the time, training, and instrumentation needed to properly address a pet's oral and dental health in one safe anesthetic episode. Veterinary dentistry is usually a combination of dentistry and oral surgery. Think wisdom tooth removal not filling cavities. In addition, a properly performed COHAT includes dental radiographs (before AND after extractions), an oral examination by a veterinarian, a conversation with an owner about pathology noted on examination and radiographs, and treatment of any problems noted. This is all part of our goal to treat your pet’s dental disease in one anesthetic episode if possible.
***When comparing our COHAT with other dental procedures be sure to ask what is included and how the veterinary team has trained to perform COHATs and recognize dental disease.***