Do I really need my dog's teeth cleaned?

[Anonymous]

I took my 5 year old mutt to the vet today for a checkup and shots. The vet said everything looked good, but he needs a $250 teeth cleaning under general anaesthesia.

Is this something he really needs? What would happen if I just left it alone?

[Anonymous]

We have been told this several times about our two dogs and just never got around to doing it. Both dogs are now elderly (very), and have never had any dental problems. I know this is anecdotal but it has been our experience.

[Anonymous]

They're not upselling you, if that's what your asking.

It's just like people: Ignore dental hygiene and it could affect their general health later in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They're not upselling you, if that's what your asking.

It's just like people: Ignore dental hygiene and it could affect their general health later in life.

Yes, but when I go to the dentist they don't use general anaesthesia which carries risks of it's own.

What specifically are the impacts it could have on their general health?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They're not upselling you, if that's what your asking.

It's just like people: Ignore dental hygiene and it could affect their general health later in life.

Yes, but when I go to the dentist they don't use general anaesthesia which carries risks of it's own.

What specifically are the impacts it could have on their general health?[/quote

Dog gums can get infected just like human gums. Infected gums and teeth aren't just a problem in the mouth -- the heart, kidneys, intestinal tract, and joints may also be infected. The tartar and any infected areas of the mouth contain a multitude of bacteria than can 'seed' to other parts of the body.

[Anonymous]

Does your dog have visible plaque on his teeth and/or red gums? My dog needs annual cleanings because his teeth are visibly gross and his gums look irritated. If we don't do a dental annually he ends up having teeth pulled - which, if left untreated, would mean he could gradually lose his ability to eat comfortably. My understanding is this is NOT common in most dogs, so it probably depends on whether your dog actually needs it.

[Anonymous]

How much do you pay, PP? I know my dog needs it but I'm afraid of the cost.

[Anonymous]

All dogs are placed under general anesthesia for the teeth cleaning. $250 sounds about right unless they find teeth that need to be extracted, but that probably won't be the situation in a 5 yr old. I've done the cleaning a few times with my dogs but never kept up with the brushing. They are seniors and I can tell it affects how they eat (slower at chewing).

[Anonymous]

depends. at some point, many dogs do need a teeth cleaning as the tarter build up can lead to rotten teeth and poor gums. i have never had to do annual cleanings, but maybe we were lucky.

thy this first, it has worked for us so far:

1) use your thumb nail to take the plaque buildup off the teeth.

2) give your dog a raw beef marrow bone at least once a week. he will chew on this quite a bit and it helps to keep the teeth clean. store bought teeth cleaners are a waste in my opinion and marrow bones work great - dogs love them too.

[Anonymous]

Poor dental hygiene can lead to heart problems. We rescued my dog as a senior and by the time we got him he had to have all but about 4 of his teeth pulled. He had terrible heart problems - though I can't prove a complete link, the vet said it definitely contributed. Mind you, this wasn't a little bit of tartar, they were rotting out of his head. But the same is said about people - bad dental hygiene can cause strokes, heart attacks. Just something to think about. They can do quite a bit of scraping for the plaque before reaching the point where they have to anesthetize.

[Anonymous]

I did that once. Her teeth looked slightly better after. Then back to bad a year later. Some fell out and that really helped. The dog lived until 15 years old.