Cleaning an old dog's teeth

[Fabforester]

So, my dear old border terrier cross has had his recent check up at the vets. He was completely fine but it was me who nearly needed wheeling out of there after being quoted to have his teeth 'cleaned'! £££. Wowzers. So, it warrants anaesthetising him, therefore keeping in for a day, and emptying my purse of £270. Don't get me wrong this dog means the world to me and has done for the last 14 years, but I wanted to check if this is really necessary, or if you guys have success with DIY efforts at home. He has no signs of infection or anything sinister, just plaque, and embossed bunny rabbits probably. Thoughts ?

 

[meleeka]

I think it’s seen as a good money maker by a lot of vets. In days gone by they didn’t seem to bother about teeth so much. My JRT has been recommended for cleaning under anesthetic but then the next vet wasn’t at all concerned about her teeth.

 

[Chiffy]

I had my 14 yr old rescue done and she lived on until almost 17. There was nothing particularly wrong except smelly breath and becoming slightly fussy about her food. Once under anaesthetic they did actually remove one tooth. She had tests beforehand to make sure she could cope with the anaesthetic and she was kept hydrated on a drip. I think it was under £200 though.
It definitely was worth doing.

 

[tda]

My sis in law had their border done on recommendation of their vet friend.
Not something I would be bothered about unless there was a real problem

 

[Tiddlypom]

We had our 13yo JRT done last year. The vets had been recommending it being done for years, and tbf his teeth were looking pretty manky with tartar and his breath stank. We kept putting it off due to concerns about the GA.

We are very pleased the results. Underneath the crud were a set of good healthy gnashers, and his gums and oral hygiene are now great. It's definitely best to get them done before irreparable damage sets in.

 

[npage123]

We had our 13yo JRT done last year. The vets had been recommending it being done for years, and tbf his teeth were looking pretty manky with tartar and his breath stank. We kept putting it off due to concerns about the GA.

We are very pleased the results. Underneath the crud were a set of good healthy gnashers, and his gums and oral hygiene are now great. It's definitely best to get them done before irreparable damage sets in.

Good advice.
If you have concerns over the safety aspect of the GA, talk to your vets so they can put you at ease and as Chiffy suggested, maybe they can do tests to proof the GA will be safe.
I'm pretty sure the vet would have advised the cleaning because your dog has got calculus present, not only plaque. It would be very unethical of them to lie about something like that. The calculus can lead to bone loss and loose teeth, so it's far better to have it removed to ensure the longevity of his teeth.
Regarding DIY efforts at home, this is fine if the dog only has soft plaque deposits which can be removed with a toothbrush with a small head or those rubber things you stick over your finger. However, if the plaque has already matured and it all became calculus, no toothbrush in the world will remove the calculus. It grows into the dental tubules and down the sides of the tooth, i.e. underneath the level of the gum, so you would need the right kind of instruments to be able to move calculus deposits. I don't think any dog would put up with this type of descaling carried out without having at least sedation if they're co-operative at the vets, or GA.

 

[blackcob]

In my experience £270 sounds about average for a small/medium dog, GA, scale and polish.

Poor oral health in dogs is frequently a source of chronic pain and discomfort and can have a knock on effect on so many other body systems. I think it's something that is often underestimated and glossed over but can have a huge impact on health (perhaps coming second only to obesity in regards to 'preventable' things).

 

[Fabforester]

Thank you - this is all really useful, love this forum for a balanced, different perspective when needed. They did explain re testing re GA and do appreciate it is a risk one needs to take, I think he may have to go through with it. Thanks all

 

[Clodagh]

In my experience £270 sounds about average for a small/medium dog, GA, scale and polish.

Poor oral health in dogs is frequently a source of chronic pain and discomfort and can have a knock on effect on so many other body systems. I think it's something that is often underestimated and glossed over but can have a huge impact on health (perhaps coming second only to obesity in regards to 'preventable' things).

BC - humans with inflamed gums are at higher risk of heart disease, is this the same for dogs, do you know?

 

[JillA]

BC - humans with inflamed gums are at higher risk of heart disease, is this the same for dogs, do you know?

From what vets have told me over the years, a lot of internal organs are at risk from the plaque and tartar and worse in rotting teeth, especially liver, there are just so many toxins. One vet said I needed to get my dogs done "before they kill him". My 13 yr old Cavalier is now dentally challenged and tries to gum visitors to death (and has nothing to keep his tongue in lol) but he is happy and healthy, much more than he would have been with rotting gnashers.

 

[{97702}]

BC - humans with inflamed gums are at higher risk of heart disease, is this the same for dogs, do you know?

That is certainly what I have always understood - that they are at higher risk? It will be interesting to hear what BC says

Teeth cleaning is a part of life for me and I would be delighted at a bill of only £270! The greyhounds are often £400-£500 for a clean and extractions...

 

[blackcob]

BC - humans with inflamed gums are at higher risk of heart disease, is this the same for dogs, do you know?

Yup, circulating bacteria from a manky mouth go on to cause inflammatory processes in the organs. Not really a problem for young dogs with robust immune systems but the older they get and the longer it goes on... it's like a lifelong, low grade infection that's constantly being fought off, doing damage as it goes.

Love a toothless gummy greyhound Lév. I'm sorry that they suffer with their teeth so much but they make for lovely patients, never see a bad one and the nurses love their veins.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I think it was a cat but I remember a very sensible vet, years ago (I still ask to see him now) just flicking some tartar of a canine tooth, with his thumb nail, saying "I've just saved you a fortune".
A different vet once congratulated me on the healthy state of an elderly JRT's teeth. I simply said 'it's because they only eat healthy foods, nothing sweet!'

 

[{97702}]

Yup, circulating bacteria from a manky mouth go on to cause inflammatory processes in the organs. Not really a problem for young dogs with robust immune systems but the older they get and the longer it goes on... it's like a lifelong, low grade infection that's constantly being fought off, doing damage as it goes.

Love a toothless gummy greyhound Lév. I'm sorry that they suffer with their teeth so much but they make for lovely patients, never see a bad one and the nurses love their veins.

LOL Luckily I have now got one 11 YO with 2 teeth left, one 11 YO with 99% of her teeth left and one 10 YO who has never ever had a problem with her teeth - quite a relief after my gorgeous Islay!

 

[Clodagh]

It is a difficult decision to make though, as it is so expensive and not a lot to show for it, really. Hidden benefits don't help your credit card!

 

[L&M]

I would do it.

We sadly lost our beloved Labrador last summer due to a liver tumour. We were completely unaware of it until it ruptured. She had a history of bad teeth, and for numerous reasons (financial/scared of putting her through the GA etc), put it off until she was 14yrs. The procedure cost approx. £350 as she had 2 teeth removed as well as the scale.

We lost her 2 mnths after - and always have a horrible nagging doubt in my mind that if I had faced up to her dental issues when she was younger, the liver issue may have been avoided..........

Having said that I have had several older dogs in my lifetime, some with good teeth and some with bad, and have all been euthanased for non dental related issues, but is certainly something I will take a lot more seriously with future dogs.

 

[SusieT]

If your not sure why not go and get a second opinion from another vet? An internet forum can't tell you if your dog needs a dental without seeing the dog and his mouth .

 

[Cinnamontoast]

But isn’t the ga test to do with how the animal will react to the drugs as opposed to the actual being put under? My vet agrees that big dog shouldn’t have a ga, particularly because of his heart murmur. I’m hoping they’ll do a local when I take him back for this bloody abscess.

 

[Umbongo]

Hard to tell from a forum whether or not your dog needs a dental, but yes most of the time dentals are worth doing. As stated previously bacteria can enter the blood system and affect vital organs including the heart, as is the same in cases of human dental problems. Does your dog have any difficulty eating? Bad breath? Did the vet say extractions may be required? Sometimes once the plaque has been removed the tooth underneath is actually diseased and will require removal, so not always easy to tell when the dog is awake and in a consult.

A pre GA blood test will not "prove" that the GA will be safe, but just show that your animal's blood work and kidney function is healthy at that point in time, and hopefully the GA will be less of a risk. There is a small risk with any GA, whether your animal is young/old, healthy or not.

Cracking plaque off with a thumbnail is not an effective dental! If the tooth is loose or diseased that can be really painful for the animal. Plaque and bacteria also accumulate under the gumline. Only a manual/electronic descaler can get that rubbish off.

If you are not sure maybe get a 2nd opinion from another vet or a vet nurse clinic? I am a veterinary nurse and enjoy dental care. In my opinion having worked in a few practices (both private and charity) most vets do not enjoy dentals....so wouldn't be booking them in willy nilly if it was not for the animals benefit. I have only worked with one vet who loved a dental and they were a dental specialist at a referral centre.

That being said also take in to account the animals age, other health conditions etc. My cat is 17 and has had 2 dentals in the last 2 years and his breath has started to smell again, plaque building up etc. He is not having trouble eating and is in end stage renal failure and is now slightly anaemic due to the kidney failure. So I am not planning on putting him through any further anaesthetics.