Jeanne talks about why it is necessary to put pets under anesthesia for a professional dental cleaning and steps that are taken to minimize risk. She also touches on how anesthesia free dog and cat teeth cleanings do come with some concerns, with a position statement by the American College of Veterinary Dentistry (AVDC) that can be found here.
She is a founding member and former president of the Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians – A NAVTA Specialty Group which certifies, trains and mentors credentialed technicians to be specialists in dentistry.
For more answers to common dental care questions click here.
TRANSCRIPT:
We have to place pets under anesthesia for dental cleanings because they will not tolerate having their teeth scaled and polished while awake, and all the surfaces of the teeth not be adequately cleaned. There are companies that provide anesthesia-free cleanings. These businesses are attractive to pet owners because it takes away the worry of putting their pet under anesthesia. The American College of Veterinary Dentistry (AVDC) has issued a position statement on this practice, and I urge all pet owners to read this document to understand why this is not the best decision for your pet (2019). To allay fears of anesthesia risk, practices should run diagnostic lab tests and design an anesthesia protocol that is tailored to the pet’s current health status.
Jeanne R. Perrone, MS, CVT, VTS (Dentistry) talks about why it is necessary to put pets under anesthesia for a professional dental cleaning and gives her position on anesthesia free dog and cat teeth cleanings.
