They say the cutest mouth is the smelliest. Well, at least, I For example. Our puppies are cursed with their teeth squeezed together, and it is easy to collect plaque and tartar.
No wonder we often see toothless Chihuahuas sticking out their tongues. Although it looks cute, we must take care of their teeth to protect their bodies from oral bacteria-these bacteria can spread to their heart, liver and kidneys.
I wrote about Tooth brushing and other home dental care Must have before, but even after careful maintenance, you may still need to do professional teeth cleaning for your dog occasionally.
I am really afraid of letting Matilda’s teeth be professionally cleaned, but despite frequent brushing, her teeth are getting worse and worse. Now, I am very happy that I finally took her to the vet. Here is what I learned during this process:
Is anesthesia safe for small dogs?
Smaller dogs are more susceptible to anesthesia overdose during the cleaning process, but this is very rare. Obesity and advanced age are also risk factors.
When arranging your dog’s dentistry, always follow the instructions you will get. After dinner time on the day before the operation, you may not be allowed to feed and water your dog. If your dog eats or drinks water, they may vomit and inhale during the procedure.
Usually, your veterinarian will perform blood tests before dental surgery, but I always ask to make sure. Blood tests before anesthesia may reveal any unknown health problems that may cause adverse reactions to anesthesia.
When should my dog have her first tooth?
Matilda received her first teeth cleaning when she was about 4 or 5 years old. Because of the need to pull out a loose, decayed tooth, this is an emergency. At that time, I felt very sad. Although she took care of her teeth very hard, she still lost a tooth, but I didn’t dare to take her to do professional cleaning.
As far as I know, I might have taken her there when she was about 3 years old. That might be when she started getting tartar. It makes sense to start seeing your dog when your dog is young, because you can see her response to the anesthesia and how she will behave afterwards.
More importantly, untreated dental diseases can cause an overload of oral bacteria that can spread in the body and put pressure on your dog’s kidneys, heart, and liver.
how much does it cost?
The cost of a typical tooth cleaning without extraction can be between US$400 and US$1,200, depending on your veterinarian and where you live. Your local humanities society may provide low-cost dental services.
It is expensive, but dental care can extend life and reduce expensive veterinary bills. If you wait until your dog needs a tooth extraction, the cost will soar.
How often does a dog need to wash his teeth?
Matilda performed the first cleaning when she was about 4 years old, and recently performed the second cleaning when she was 6.5 years old. This is a good time frame for us. Even if she brushed her teeth semi-regularly, she also developed moderate tartar, but she did not need any other extracts.
Your dog may need to be cleaned every 6 months, but it may be able to escape every 2-3 years.
Is it really worth it?
Yes it is. When you brush your dog’s teeth, you will remove that sticky, transparent plaque before it turns into tartar. Once your dog has those hardened yellow tartar deposits, you will not be able to remove them at home.
If you can’t afford dental expenses, please do your best to take care of your dog’s teeth while saving money. Seek help from your local rescue or humanitarian organization to see if there are any low-cost dental options for you. And monitor your dog’s teeth for decay, shaking, bleeding and odor.
Matilda’s teeth are completely white and free of tartar. It’s hard to believe that there are clean, healthy teeth under all the yellow tartar.
She still used Her pet copywriting business Make sure to find the best pet products and services online through compelling copywriting and interesting, informative blog posts.She also provides Product description writing service For e-commerce companies.
As the dog mother of Matilda and Cow, she spends most of her time walking long distances and practicing new skills, and most of her time trying to make the most of a small part of her bed.
You will also find her baking bread and homemade pizza, laughing, painting and shopping.
