3 Things You Can Expect When You Take Your Dog In For A Veterinary Dental Cleaning
Posted on: 22 September 2016
Just like humans, it is important that you make sure your dog's teeth are well taken care of. This not only involves using a dog toothbrush and toothpaste to brush their teeth on a regular basis, but it also involves taking them into the vet to get a professional dental cleaning. This dental cleaning allows the vet to thoroughly inspect your dog's teeth and gums and to give their teeth a good cleaning. To schedule a dental cleaning for your dog, you will simply need to call your vet and schedule it, just as you would any veterinary appointment. This article will discuss 3 things that you can expect when you take your dog in for a veterinary cleaning.
Initial Examination
When your dog is first taken to the back for their dental cleaning, the vet will perform a full examination of their mouth. This helps them to get a good idea of how their teeth and gums look. This allows them to talk with you about areas where improvements need to be made in their oral health, as well as areas where the teeth and gums look really good. You can also ask questions at this time either about the dental cleaning procedure, or about caring for your dog's teeth and gums.
Blood Is Drawn And Your Dog Is Put Under Anesthesia and Local Anesthesia
Your dog's blood is then drawn to make sure that they are a good candidate to be put under anesthesia. If they are, the anesthesia will then be given. Dogs are put under anesthesia for this procedure, much like a child would be, because it allows the vet to clean their teeth and gums in a way that wouldn't be possible if your dog was awake. A local anesthetic is also applied to the mouth, so that your dog doesn't feel anything in this area.
A Comprehensive Cleaning Takes Place
At this point, the comprehensive cleaning will then begin. X-rays are often taken to look for things like gum disease, dead teeth, broken teeth, etc. Underneath the gums is then cleaned to make sure that bacteria is removed from this area. This helps ensure that your dog doesn't develop gum disease. Then, your dog will receive a scraping and scaling of all their teeth to remove any plaque or tartar build up in these areas. The teeth are then going to be polished to make them smooth and reduce the likelihood of plaque building up on a rough surface.
For more information about dog dental cleaning, contact a vet.
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