Why Anesthesia Is Safer For Dog Dental Cleanings

It has only really come to light in the last few decades just how important pet dental care it. Brushing our teeth, cutting back on sugary snacks and visiting the dentist regularly are key elements of human dental care, and the same principles should also be applied to your canine companion.

As a responsible pet owner, you will want to do everything in your power to ensure that your dog is as healthy as possible. Poor oral care not only effects the function of their teeth, but can also have a wider impact on your dog’s overall health and wellbeing.

Regular dental check-ups are an important component of your dog’s dental care. This is because your veterinarian has the access and tools to be able to perform a thorough examination of your dog’s teeth, which will allow for early diagnosis and treatment of any potential problems.

Pet dental check-ups should be carried out around once per year, and during that appointment, you should really arrange for your dog to be booked in for a professional dental cleaning.

Why are professional dental cleanings important?

While it is possible for an owner to try and brush their dog’s teeth regularly, your furry friend may not always be very cooperative. Dogs don’t fully understand instructions to sit or lay still and keep their mouth open. As such, home cleaning often removes the majority of the debris and bacteria, but still misses those that accumulate in the harder to reach areas.

Professional dental cleanings are always performed while your dog is under anesthetic. This will reduce the stress that the experience may cause your pet, but anesthetic is primarily used because it makes the process much safer for your beloved dog.

Anesthesia keeps your dog still

One of the most important things that anesthesia does is keep your dog still. The tools that are used in professional pet dental cleanings are small and can be sharp. Any sudden or involuntary movements caused when your pet is awake could cause your vet to accidentally scratch or cut the inside of your dog’s mouth, potentially causing them harm.

Anesthesia gives your veterinarian time

Anesthesia-free dental cleanings are renowned for being substandard. This is because the veterinary dentist doesn’t have enough time to do a thorough job. To completely remove bacteria and debris from your dog’s teeth takes time. While your dog may be able to hold his mouth open momentarily, once anesthetized, your vet has all the time that they need to be able to perform a comprehensive clean of his teeth and gums.

Anesthesia makes the entire dental cleaning process stress free

Stress can be a serious problem for animals, and dogs who are exposed to high levels of stress can find that it changes their behavior. For example, your dog may normally be quite happy to visit your vet. However, if a non-anesthetized dental cleaning is performed in the same offices or by the same person, it can make your pet anxious, fearful or even aggressive when faced with returning.

Dogs are unable to understand us when we try to explain that the cleaning is for their own good, and being faced with unusual tools and held in strange positions can be very frightening for even the most laid-back animal. When you pet is anesthetized for dental cleaning, they will know absolutely nothing of the procedure until they wake up in the recovery room, where you or a member of the veterinary team will be there to make a fuss of them.

Keeping your dog’s teeth healthy is much easier when you opt for dental cleanings performed under anesthetic. Call us to find out more.