Back in September I made an appointment for Sampson to have his teeth cleaned. It’s scheduled for December 10th. And yes, my vet is booked that far in advance. I know right?
I think a professional dental cleaning is a good thing to have done before your pet gets too old. I’ve been told it has something to do with age and anesthesia (just like people.)
Brushing your dog’s teeth
Back when Sampson was a puppy I wanted to give him the very best of everything. Sadly I did not know about brushing your pet’s teeth. By the time I learned, I was too lazy to acclimate him to the tooth brush, although I do on occasion brush his teeth.
Choosing the right brush
I bought two of those little finger brushes, but last year I won a dental kit from My Brown Newfies. Included with the kit was a really nice dog tooth brush. I’ve used both and I like the brush better. It fits better in the dog’s mouth and saves your finger, just in case you have a pup that doesn’t tolerate the brushing.
Here’s where the raw diet helps
Dog breakfasts at Stone Manor consists of raw chicken necks. It may not be the best diet for those of you on the squeamish side, but like anything else, if you do it long enough, you get used to it. (Besides sometimes you can make a blog post out of a chicken head.)
Feeding Sampson and Delilah breakfast bones has made a huge difference in the cleanliness of their teeth. I mean look at this smile.
That right there could be a Pepsodent smile!
As good as those teeth look, some of the chompers in the back have a little tartar at the base, and this needs to be removed.
Delilah’s teeth look good thus far, (she was a bit younger than Sampson when we started the raw diet) but we will address this with Dr. Soutter at Delilah’s next wellness exam which is scheduled for June of next year.
Heart Like a Dog Lesson
Sampson spends his day in the now, he does not project what’s to come, he doesn’t worry about tomorrow. When tomorrow comes he will roll with whatever comes at him.
Not me. December 10th is fine when you’re looking at it from the far side of September but it’s a lot scarier for me now.
I’m terrified. Terrified that something bad will happen while he’s under anesthesia.
What if he has a bad reaction and doesn’t come home? How will I live with that guilt?
How do I learn to live in the now and NOT project what scary things might come my way on December 10th?
How do I learn to live my life with a Heart Like a Dog?
Don’t forget to thank a Veteran today and remember, it’s not just two-leggers who serve.
emma says
Mom hears you on that fear thing. She was a basket case when I got spayed, and last month when I had my lip surgery she was so scared. We did all the tests to make sure I was in top shape, but something can always go wrong. I’m sure Sampson will be fine but I’m also sure saying that won’t help you much. If he needs his teeth cleaned, that will give him a health advantage so it should be done, but anesthesia is always scary for my mom. Of all the anesthesia procedures done daily, such a small percentage ever have a problem so it will be fine, just try not to scare him. I never like it when Mom leave me with the vet and she is crying.
Roxy the traveling dog says
It is scary, that whole vet anesthesia thing. Does your vet offer cleaning without it? My mom did that with her dog and it worked out great. Especially since his teeth are only a little bad.
Oz the Terrier says
Ah, the dreaded teeth cleaning. Ma is always nervous about it here too for the exact reason you mention. She does try to brush my teeth but I don’t like when she goes in for the back ones too much. What is a dog mom to do?!?
*Cairn cuddles*
Oz
Donna says
That’s some smile there Sampson. Good of your mom to take such good care of it!
Jodi, I always worry when my dogs are going under anesthesia but you have to weigh the pros and the cons. If you and your vet feel this procedure (or any procedure for that matter) is beneficial for your dog – and that more can come from not doing it – then you just have to trust that no matter the outcome, you have always had your dog’s best interest at heart – and that’s all we can ever do. 🙂
I know there is always a risk – but to hopefully set your mind at ease – as much as I always worry – nothing bad has happened. 🙂 And I have the worst luck of anyone I know.
Callie, Shadow, and Ducky's Mom says
I can understand your fear, really I can. But I look at it this way: I know our vet. I know he is meticulous and methodical when it comes to making sure his patients are in sound health before even starting the anesthesia process. And yes, I know anything can go wrong. BUT, if I allow myself to worry about everything that could go wrong ever, I would never leave my bed in the morning let alone the house. I can’t begin to remember all the times I have turned the car around and come back home to be absolutely certain I locked all the doors or turned off the coffee pot. I seriously have to stop myself from second-guessing my every step, almost every time I leave the house!
In short, I had to “train” myself to stop worrying about everything and start having faith that “everything will be okay”. It has not been easy, for sure, but in the case of getting the dogs’ teeth cleaned — or any other surgical procedure — I’ve learned to have faith and to trust the vet.
Jackie Bouchard says
I am a huge worrywart so anesthesia is always very scary to me. I have only ever had my dogs’ teeth cleaned when they were going under for another reason. Unfortunately, our Bailey had to have a couple of (thankfully B9) lumps removed so we only had her teeth cleaned then. I know it’s important to have them cleaned… but I worry too much. I’m trying to keep Rita’s clean and pretty so it won’t be an issue… but we’ll see. I’m pretty lazy about brushing her teeth and am counting on antlers to do most of the work for me!
jan says
Teeth cleaning day is scary for me too. And my office asks me if I want to pay extra for a safer anesthetic for older and smaller dogs. Of course I do! Fortunately my dogs have good teeth genes so it isn’t necessary very often, but it is such a stressful day.
Kristine says
Anasthesia is definitely scary, I am not going to lie. In fact, it was probably the most frightening part of Shiva’s recent surgery. The night she came off of sedation was brutal and I won’t forget that anxiety. However, she recovered just fine by the next day and has forgotten all about it now.
I guess you just have to weight the costs and benefits of the teeth cleaning with the risks of potential problems. Sampson is a pretty healthy boy and if you have a good vet whom you trust, I am sure he wouldn’t put him under if he didn’t think it safe.
Carol Bondy says
I just read someplace that out of all the things you worry yourself about..99percent dont come true…so why do we worry…over that one percent???!!! Yup…we do
And i agree..bones help tremendously
Frankie and Ernie says
Ernie and I BOTH had our Teefs brushed today. We use CHICKEN teefspaste… on a CHILDREN’s teefs brush… THAT works best fur Mom and fur US… she has TRIED all the kinds fur us Dogs and rejected them all fur different reasons.
Having a dental is kinda Scary… butt remember if there is anythingy WRONG with our teefs… THAT can give is a Deadly infection… and so you gotta weigh the Scary with the BAD. We will have our paws crossed that there will be Nothing to worry about and that they don’t decide to STEAL any of your teefs. BUTT then there IS the Teefs Fairy who brings 87,000 pressies if they do that.
Maggie says
I’ve always worried about anesthesia, too, but I think you set yourself up for success if you do the optional pre-anesthetic lab work. Yes, it makes the procedure more expensive, but I’ve done it every time just for peace of mind!
Jan K says
Our beagle Kobi has an overbite and all the dental chews in the world won’t clean his teeth. And he hates having his teeth brushed….the dog who loves everything has shunned 6 different toothpastes. We also pay extra for pre-anesthetic lab work, it’s worth the money for more peace of mind to me, and we trust our vet completely when it comes to surgeries of any kind. That all helps, but of course I still worry. Kobi has had his teeth done a few times now and there has never been an issue. I try to think of the last time I heard of anyone having a problem with their dog and anesthesia….I don’t know any….so I imagine it’s a rare thing to have a problem. I wish I could tell you how not to worry, but I haven’t figured that one out yet either!
Genevieve says
We are thinking happy thoughts for Sampson’s vet visit. He will do great, and he’ll come home all shiny and new. Mom brushes my teeth every single day and I am not afraid. My toothbrush has 3 sets of bristles that fit right over all sides of my teeth. My toothpaste is chicken flavored! Yum.
Love and licks,
Cupcake
Hailey and Zaphod says
One of the cats and a previous dog had dental work . . . other than walking like a drunken sailor for a few hours, both did well (and my cat was a senior and had to have teeth removed). I am very fortunate that my vet happens to be my friend and I trust him implicitly. I am sure it will be ok. Lee and Phod’s Lady
Two French Bulldogs says
Mom is a scared to bring me for teeth cleaning. So I let her brush mine with my Big Bird toothbrush
Lily
2 brown dawgs says
Your vet will do blood work first right? That is one of the best ways to check whether a dog has any underlying health issues. When they clean teeth they don’t put them very far under and if your vet is using the newer anesthesia methods like Storm had for her spay, Sampson should be awake quickly after the cleaning. Dental is a great time for the vet to get in there and take a good look around the dog’s mouth, under the tongue and at the back of the throat to look for any abnormalities.
Denise Straulea says
Glad to know we all fear the “anesthesia” part of treating our babies!! We all worry, hearts in our mouths till they come back home with us. A terrible feeling, but when the procedure is over and done with, its such a relief!!!!
Sand Spring Chesapeakes says
Jodi, I know it’s hard to worry but don’t worry or kill yourself stressing out about Sampson’s upcoming dental. Anesthesia is scary and you take a risk each time you put a pet under but if you trust your vet and your vet is current on all the new anesthetics and taylors them to each and every pet along with using monitors and techs during and most importantly doing a exam and bloodwork before hand you should have nothing to worry about. Sampson is a senior but not to old for a dental cleaning. It’s best to get those teeth cleaned up before the bacteria causes infection in the blood stream or worse in the heart. You can always have a talk with your vet before hand and find out what pre meds, induction agent and general anesthetic they are going to be using. You want the short acting induction anesthetics and if they have isoflourane or sevoflourane general anesthetic then all should be good. They should also hook them up to IV fluids and flush their system out while under. People say our dental prices are so much more than other clinics well it is because we take precautions and do what needs to be done to ensure a safe procedure. Good luck will be thinking of you and if you have any questions you can buzz me. I will help you if I can.
Jen@MyBrownNewfies says
He will be fine! You have to be positive going in! They will have people there monitoring him closely and if they thought his dental cleaning would put him at risk they wouldn’t do it! Don’t make me drive up there in the winter 🙂
Kirsten says
I was just remarking on the age and anesthesia thing on your post from today! But Sampson really will be fine; the vast majority of vets have no problem with doing dental cleanings and other procedures requiring anesthesia to an older dog.
His teeth DO look spectacular! I have no doubt that his diet played a role, but I wonder if other things, like genetics, have something to do with dog dental health? My dad often remarks about how his dog has clean, white teeth, right up until the end at age 14–all because they fed him Purina Dog Chow his whole life! 🙂 Who knows, maybe he’s right–or maybe that dog just got lucky.
weliveinaflat says
I like the long handle brush better than the finger brush too. I;m kind of glad Donna is her size… I look at the tiny little chihuahuas and I think I may accidentally hurt them trying to brush their teeth!