13 Oct What is a “COHAT”? Why is it more than “just a cleaning”?
COHAT is an acronym often used in the veterinary field, which stands for “Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment”. The term has come into favor over recent years as a replacement for other common terms like “dental cleaning”, which does not give an accurate description of what goes on during a veterinary dental procedure.
What Happens When My Pet has a COHAT Veterinary Dental Procedure at Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery?
Consultation:
The first step of every COHAT is an awake oral and physical examination, which is accompanied by a discussion with you, the pet owner, about the patient’s medical and dental history and any concerns you may have. An awake oral examination is an important step whenever possible, as it allows the veterinarian to assess the patient’s occlusion (where the upper and lower teeth sit in relation to each other when the mouth is closed), and ability and comfort to open and close the mouth normally.
It also gives us an idea of what is to come, so that a cost estimate and treatment plan can be provided to the client. A thorough physical exam and bloodwork are important to make sure that the patient is in good enough health to safely undergo general anesthesia.
Anesthetized Imaging:
Some patients undergo their dental procedure immediately after consultation with the veterinarian, while others return on a different day. The first step of the procedure is to put the patient under general anesthesia to facilitate imaging, examination and treatment. Once under anesthesia, a cone-beam CT is performed. This is an advanced imaging modality that provides a 3-D image of the patient’s anatomy. This is followed up with intraoral dental x-rays, which can provide different information than the CT scan in some cases.
Both cone-beam CT and dental X-rays must be taken under general anesthesia in dogs and cats. These images are all assessed by a board-certified veterinary dentist or resident. Dental imaging is extremely important as it provides invaluable information about the patient’s bone structure, what’s going on below the gumline, and allows for assessment of the inside of the nose, ears and temporomandibular joints.
Anesthetized Exam:
After assessing all the patient’s imaging, the veterinarian moves on to do a complete and thorough oral examination. Even the best-behaved pet will not allow for a complete oral examination, which includes examining the back of the throat, tonsils, under the tongue, roof of the mouth, as well as probing around every single tooth, looking for dental fractures, periodontal pockets, mobility, wear, or any other abnormalities. Even patients with excellent dental health significantly benefit from routine, thorough oral examinations, which can catch problems early, such as catching an oral cancer while it is small and treatable.
Protect Your Pet’s Smile with a COHAT Veterinary Dental Procedure
A COHAT veterinary dental procedure is one of the most important ways to protect your pet’s oral and overall health. By going beyond a simple cleaning, it allows our team to identify hidden issues, treat existing problems, and prevent future dental disease. At Animal Dental Care & Oral Surgery, we’re committed to providing the highest level of care for every patient—because your pet deserves a healthy, pain-free smile.
If you’d like to learn more or schedule your pet’s next COHAT, contact us today to book an appointment with our veterinary dental specialists.
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (10/13/2025) Photo by Krista Mangulsone on Unsplash