Dog Teeth Cleaning

 How often your dog needs a professional cleaning can vary. Many pets need a professional cleaning once every 6 or 12 months. Several factors can affect how often your dog needs a cleaning, including:

 Age: Older dogs tend to need more frequent cleanings than younger dogs.

 Breed and size: Smaller dogs and breeds tend to need dental cleanings more often than larger dogs. Smaller dogs have small mouths that can cause their teeth to be overcrowded. That overcrowding can lead to more tartar buildup.

 Lifestyle: Lifestyle factors, like the food your dog eats and whether you brush their teeth at home, can affect how often your dog needs professional cleanings.

 Your vet can provide advice about your dog’s teeth cleaning needs. They will perform a professional teeth cleaning under sedation. They will be able to do a more thorough cleaning than you can accomplish at home. Be sure to ask your vet about your dog’s dental health during their annual checkup.

 Does pet insurance cover the cost of dog teeth cleaning?

 According to Richardson, pet insurance typically doesn’t cover the cost of dental cleanings. However, some plans may include dental cleanings as part of a wellness package. Sometimes, the cleanings are covered up to a set amount each year.

 Some pet insurance plans may include coverage for dental issues that are caused by a specific injury, like a broken tooth due to your dog chewing on a stone. It’s best to carefully check the fine print of your policy so you know exactly what’s included.

 Your dog’s dental health relies on a healthy microbiome in his mouth. Like his gut microbiome, he needs beneficial bacteria to overcome pathogenic bacteria that lead to diseases like gingivitis and periodontal disease. Dog teeth cleaning can minimize bad bacteria and prevent diseases from taking hold in his body.

 These are the main methods for cleaning your dog’s teeth to keep his teeth and gums healthy.

 1. Dog Teeth Cleaning Without Anesthesia

 Anesthesia-free dental cleaning is the regular method used on people all the time. And it can be done on dogs too. Most clinics provide this service by a veterinarian or a trained veterinary technician.

 Anesthesia-free cleanings follow a four-step process:

 i. An ultrasonic cleaner or dental hygiene scaling instrument cleans the teeth and the area under the gum line.

 ii. Using a probe, the technician will check for problems below the gum line.

 iii. The teeth are polished to remove tartar and staining.

 iv. The mouth is rinsed with a natural antiseptic to clear debris from the procedure.

 Can be done on older dogs with health issues that can’t withstand anesthesia

 It’s a shorter procedure that can be done on pets with anxiety

Dog Teeth Cleaning Vancouver

 An alternative for dogs with low blood pressure, low heart rate or low blood oxygen

 An alternative for dogs with poor kidney or liver function or heart issues

 Can be done on dogs with a history of seizures

 An option for healthy pets with a small amount of tartar

 About ⅓ the cost of dog teeth cleanings with anesthesia

 A good option between cleanings done onder anesthesia

 Not all dogs are able to have anesthesia-free teeth cleaning. Dogs have to accept being wrapped to secure them. And there are natural calming herbal remedies or Bach flower essences that can help. A technician needs to have a gentle technique to work with skittish or nervous animals.

 Not all dogs are able to have anesthesia-free teeth cleaning. Dogs have to accept being wrapped to secure them. And there are natural calming herbal remedies or Bach flower essences that can help. A technician needs to have a gentle technique to work with skittish or nervous animals.

 But if your dog is aggressive, too nervous or has severe periodontal disease, anesthesia-free cleaning may not be a good idea. If your dog has dental issues, you should be referred to a veterinary dental specialist for the care and services they can provide.

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 Concerns About Anesthesia-Free Teeth Cleaning

 There is concern within the veterinary community that this type of cleaning isn’t effective. Here are some concerns:

 Many veterinarians don’t recommend anesthesia-free teeth cleaning. They say that without anesthesia, you can’t get far enough below the gum line, and without x-rays you can’t always identify any deeper problems. Ideally, choose a clinic that operates in close consultation with a veterinary clinic. Then if X-rays or other services are needed, the support is there when needed.

 Here’s how professional teeth cleaning differs and why it can be an option for your dog.

 2. Professional Teeth Cleaning For Dogs

 Most dog owners are reluctant to have teeth cleaning done under anesthesia … but for some dogs whose teeth require deeper care, professional teeth cleaning may be necessary.

 Brushing your dog’s teeth is part of good oral hygiene and dental health … but it can’t provide the deep cleaning below the gum line that’s sometimes needed. A professional dental cleaning, under general anesthesia, enables a veterinary dental specialist to do a deep, 360 degree clean of every tooth and clean below the gum line. That removes plaque and tartar and the bacteria that produce toxins, proteins and free radicals. They can damage gums and lead to gingivitis, which leads to deeper dental disease and ultimately disease throughout the body.