Anaesthetic with old dogs

[Clodagh]

My lurcher, age unknown but at least 13, has got awful teeth. About 4 years ago she had them all cleaned up and the rotten ones taken out. She was poorly for ages afterwards, very depressed, clingy and down. Like depression really. Her breath has now got awful again, although I can't see any really bad teeth, I will get a vet check done but I'm sure they will say another big session. Can it be done with sedation only? It was awful seeing her before.

 

[ladyt25]

Well, ours (my parent's) older dog went in to have his teeth cleaned an, I think, a couple removed last year and he was 15. He certainly has had a sweeter smell about him since!

He was fine under GA as other than his teeth he is in good health. Not sure why yours would have been poorly after unless it reacted badly to the GA or maybe having the teeth removed left yours in a fair bit of pain for a while?

I would have thought they could do a general clean under sedation to be honest but I guess the only way to know is to ask your vet.

 

[{97702}]

Sorry but in my experience no they won't do teeth under sedation - my vets have always told me that it is too risky in case the dog moves/reacts etc? I have had older greyhounds put under anaesthetic for teeth and they have been fine, although my vets are very good at just dipping them under lightly then bringing them round again.

One of mine has had all her teeth removed apart from the 4 canines, another has 9 teeth left after two major extraction sessions, they cope without any problems at all but hopefully your lurcher will get away with a nice clean up

 

[E13]

They can do teeth under sedation, at least for a clean up but with extractions I expect they would put under a GA. It's probably down to your vet's preference, I would certainly ask!

 

[Clodagh]

I will take her next week and see what they say. I can't see any rotten ones so maybe just a good clean. Why do longdogs get such bad teeth? Is it the layout of their teeth and lips?

 

[{97702}]

I would love to know the answer to that one Clodagh! Although with my 4, the two who were in training for 5+ years are the ones who have appalling teeth (or rather no teeth left now!) and the other two who were never in training have great teeth so I have thought it might be due to the diet the greyhound trainers put them on?

Which doesn't explain lurchers and longdogs at all of course...

 

[AmyMay]

They may be able to use a different sort of GA givem the bad reaction last time.

 

[Clodagh]

I would love to know the answer to that one Clodagh! Although with my 4, the two who were in training for 5+ years are the ones who have appalling teeth (or rather no teeth left now!) and the other two who were never in training have great teeth so I have thought it might be due to the diet the greyhound trainers put them on?

Which doesn't explain lurchers and longdogs at all of course...

I wonder if it is because their lips are snug against their gums, maybe it limits the free flow of saliva. In the lab, whos mouth I have just been poking around in, there is lots of loose flesh and dangly bits.
But your diet theory sounds right, except she has been fed on the same as my other dogs since I got her, surely the first couple of years shouldn't effect their whole life?

 

[Clodagh]

They may be able to use a different sort of GA givem the bad reaction last time.

Thats worth an ask, last time I remember paying extra for a speical one anyway, I think as they have very little fat they don't metabolise GA very well, but I understood that all dogs have the special one nowadays. Will ask, thank you.

 

[{97702}]

I wonder if it is because their lips are snug against their gums, maybe it limits the free flow of saliva. In the lab, whos mouth I have just been poking around in, there is lots of loose flesh and dangly bits.
But your diet theory sounds right, except she has been fed on the same as my other dogs since I got her, surely the first couple of years shouldn't effect their whole life?

Well to be honest that is what I think as well (about diet not affecting their whole lives) but Hoover had 14 teeth out before I got him, has been on a raw diet pretty much ever since, but had to have another load of teeth out this year??!!! So perhaps your theory is right Even my vets don't seem to be able to provide any answers, they just say that all greyhounds have bad teeth....sigh.....