Having a veterinarian you can trust speaks volumes
regardless of whether you are getting routine vaccinations, a dental or major
surgery; confidence in your vet matters. It is very important to be able to ask
questions, and not be given rushed answers.
Granted, an emergency situation is different, but in preparing for the
routine stuff, and even that which is unexpected, your questions and concerns
need to be handled respectfully.
As a pet parent, there are the obvious
responsibilities…and many times above and beyond attention is essential. Don’t rely on your vet to do it all…do some
homework yourself, as much as possible so going in you can prepare a list of
questions and concerns. Being previously
educated on the issue allows you to make informed decisions regarding your
dog’s health when discussing options with your vet. To me, I am always wanting
more than one option…at least three is great!
If you are new to pet care, seek out recommendations from friends,
family, or co-workers to guide you in the right direction to a reliable
veterinarian, hopefully one you can go to for the life of your pet, which could
be 10-15 years, or possibly more.
One of the most important procedures (other than
vaccinations), is that of getting your dog’s teeth cleaned (aka: a
dental). This can be an apprehensive
time, as majority of this work is performed under a ‘general’ anesthesia, and
most of us realize there is always risk involved when going under. That can cause anxiety to us. Years ago I had a large amount of dental work
to be done, and I asked my dentist if he could just put me under and do it all,
and he responded, ‘No! I don’t put anyone under anesthesia for dental work,
that is very dangerous! No tooth is worth losing your life!’ He said between nitrous oxide and valium,
he’d get me through it, and he did!
Any dog can need a good teeth cleaning during his or her
lifetime. Small breeds, especially
Chihuahua’s are notorious for bad teeth, don’t know why really, they just
are! There are several things a pet
owner can do to reduce the amount of tartar build up, like feeding quality raw
meaty bones (RMB’s). (Note: never feed your dog cooked bones, they can splinter
and be a choking hazard. That said,
always monitor your dog when providing chew treats, as choking on small pieces
can be a possibility).
Were you aware gum disease has a connection to heart
disease in canines? (Actually, in humans too!)
That makes dental care even more important, a not to be overlooked
necessity in your dog’s health maintenance.
I have blogged before regarding the use of chlorophyll in your dog’s
drinking water. (See blog dated May 23,
2012) If you feed your dog a soft diet,
i.e., canned dog food or even home-cooked meals, he/she is more susceptible to
plaque formation. This builds up and
becomes hard (tartar), then irritates the gums.
Left untreated, the gums pull away from the tooth, causing small pockets
to open up between tooth and gum, enabling more bacteria to form. And I’m sure many of us have encountered the
dreaded ‘dog breath’! Ick! You can brush your dog’s teeth to help avoid this,
but you would need to be consistent (like every day your dog eats, which can be
challenging if you have multiple dogs).
There are some great natural recipes on the internet for canine
toothpaste, or you can buy special toothpaste at your local pet store. (Note:
never use toothpaste for humans on your dog’s teeth).
So now that you’ve had a bit of an intro to canine dental
health…let’s move on to more information about the procedure for getting Fido’s
pearly whites…well…white again! As I previously mentioned above, this is
typically performed under general anesthesia, a long-standing practice. As with anything regarding surgeries (when
teeth need to be removed), there are benefits and risks. Just as when people go in for surgery, you
sign a waiver that you nor your family will hold your doctor responsible if you
die while under. It happens, more than you know. You will have a similar agreement for your
dog for his/her dental. Statistics say 1
in 2,000 healthy dogs die under anesthesia each year. Seems like a low number unless your dog is
that ‘one’. Also, in considering that statistic, of the 89+ million dogs living
in the U.S. what the total of that ‘1’ in 2,000 is….that’s a LOT of dogs dying
under anesthesia! How many other dogs
however, that aren’t really healthy, unbeknown to owner and/or vet, face this
procedure and are at greater risk of dying because of unrevealed health issues? If your dog is over the age of 7, as this is
a good mid-life number, you might want to consider a CBC (a complete blood
count blood test) a couple weeks before the dental. It could provide important information and
give needed insight going forward.
I’ve had numerous dogs, between fostering and the
multiple ones I have adopted and others I have taken into my senior rescue, I
am well-versed on dental procedures. Out
of all the ones I’ve had done, only two went under general anesthesia, and I
did it more as a convenience, because I was taking another dog in for a neuter/dental. I absolutely did not like the way my dog was
‘foggy-minded’ and walked like she was drunk for several hours afterwards, and
she was only about 8 years old. My first
experience with the light sedative procedure (dexdomitor) was with my 13-year
old Maltese. Wow, big difference in
recovery…she was alert and eating that same evening, back to her normal self.
Just no comparison to how much quicker and easier it was! And so it has been in
each time after with all the other dogs.
So let me talk about this dexdomitor. The vet I go to uses this and has for a long,
long time. He told me once he couldn’t
even tell me when the last time was they lost a dog under it, because it is so
safe. Many times when I’ve had this
procedure done for one of my pups, I have been invited to go back and watch,
which I did. Very interesting to see,
and I learned a lot as my vet explained to me and showed me different things as
he was doing it.
So, what is dexdomitor? It is a sedative with analgesic (pain
relieving) properties. It is
administered intramuscular or intravenously.
It is used in minor dental procedures or as a pre-anesthetic to general
anesthesia. (If used in this way, it
reduces the need of the general by as much as 30-60%!) Dexdomitor is not to be
used in dogs with cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders, liver or
kidney diseases, conditions of shock, severe debilitation or stress due to
extreme heat, cold or fatigue.
Basically, it is for use in ‘clinically healthy’ dogs. However, I’m sure some of mine weren’t the
picture of health going in, and they have all done just fine. Frequent monitoring for heart function and
body temperature during sedation are of utmost importance.
Sedation is reversed using atipamezole (brand name
Antisedan). Recovery in a warm (usually
a thermal blanket), quiet, mostly dark environment are recommended for about a
half hour to 45 minutes afterward for a return to a normal state of being. As with a procedure of this type, fasting for
about 12 hours is recommended beforehand (no food or water). I have however had a dog I brought in that
required an emergency dental, and had eaten shortly previous to this, and with
the dexdomitor had zero issues (and this dog was 19 years old!) Does dexdomitor
have side effects? Yes. It is, after all
‘Western medicine’. However, they are
few and far between. Occasional
vomiting, and rarely brief states of excitement or apprehensiveness, potential hyper
salivation, diarrhea, tremors. I will
say, I have never encountered this with any of mine using the dexdomitor. But it
is always wise to monitor your dog for at least 24 hours after a dental to watch
for any adverse signs. Also, feed a
light diet, like boiled chicken breast and rice. Allow access to clean water.
This is certainly worth a discussion with your vet for
your dog’s next cleaning. I was unable
to find a list on the Internet of veterinarians who use dexdomitor for dentals,
so if yours does not, ask for a referral.
If your vet doesn’t know one, make some calls around. You should always want what is best for your
dog. This is considered safe, efficient,
reliable pet sedation that creates a calm, cooperative environment. It simplifies and shortens procedures,
reduces discomfort and pain and lowers risk to the patient (your dog!) If you are aware ahead of time there might be
infection, get an antibiotic a few days before from your vet.
Here are some after helps to keep those pearly whites
whiter between cleanings:
·
Chlorophyll in water dish (Sunny Green brand is
exceptional!)
·
Raw Meaty Bones (RMB’s)
·
Brushing teeth (if not daily, several times a
week)
·
Oral dental sprays (PetzLife is one of the
best!)
My hope in providing this information is to make many
people aware there is something besides general anesthesia for a canine dental. I know for me it gives me peace of mind going
in, and that is a big plus! Keeping on top of your dog’s teeth can ensure many
years of health and happiness, for them and for you!
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