Dog dental hygiene often seems unnecessary to dog owners. Teeth cleaning anesthesia, on the other hand, is typically viewed as highly dangerous. As a result, a lot of dog owners skip the dental hygiene of their dogs altogether. And that’s a mistake. So, let’s go over the dog teeth cleaning anesthesia cost, benefits, and risks below. Hopefully, by the end of the article, you’ll know just how safe anesthesia actually is and why it’s worth it.
Dog Teeth Cleaning Anesthesia Cost
The exact price of the anesthesia will depend on the country/state you’re in and the overall price range of the vet clinic you’re visiting. Typically, the anesthesia alone will cost somewhere between $100 and $400 of the overall price of the teeth cleaning.
However, that price will rarely be optional and separate as most dental procedures for dogs need anesthesia to be done at all. So, while the cost of the anesthesia can be unfortunately high, it’s also usually non-optional.
Are There Risks To Anesthesia Dog Teeth Cleaning?
The risks of anesthesia are very rare but they do exist – that’s undeniable. According to experts, about 1 in 2,000 otherwise healthy dogs die due to anesthesia complications. The biggest risks that can bring upon this tragic outcome are stroke and cardiac arrest. Minor problems that don’t result in a lethal outcome but can be annoying include the occasional nausea and mild vomiting.
Fortunately, responsible anesthesiologists always test the bloodwork and overall physical condition of the dog before administering anesthesia. The vast majority of negative outcomes tend to be with dogs who’ve had underlying health complications that the clinician had failed to spot.
“The anesthesiologist’s main task is to provide safe, optimal anesthesia, specifically tailored to your pet. Anesthesiologists are trained to administer anesthetics safely to patients who are sick, injured, pediatric, geriatric, or healthy,” state experts from the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.
Why Anesthesia Is A Good Idea For Dog Teeth Cleaning?
Whether we like it or not, anesthesia is just a necessity when it comes to dog teeth cleaning. While a well-trained and behaved pooch will allow a stranger or an owner to examine its teeth and even brush them, anything else will usually be out of the question. This is hardly surprising – there are people who freak out when a dentist puts a roaring metal instrument in their mouths, let alone dogs.
So, as long as your dog doesn’t belong to a certain health risk group, the anesthesia is generally a good idea. The alternative would be to just compromise the dog’s dental hygiene and that can often lead to some very nasty problems.
Are Some Dog Breeds More Susceptible To Problems With The Anesthesia Process?
The dog’s breed is also a factor as some breeds have increased risks. Anesthesia is generally not recommended for such breeds and alternative dental care methods should be pursued. The most famous examples include:
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel – increased risk of cardiac arrest
- Greyhounds – prolonged anesthesia recovery time
- Pugs, Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and other Brachycephalic breeds – airway complications
As for senior and juvenile dogs, it’s a bit of a myth that they are at a higher risk. In reality, what makes anesthesia accidents more common for these dogs is the presence of health problems, not the age itself. As long as the dog is healthy, the risk (or lack thereof) remains the same, regardless of age.
Nonsedation Dog Teeth Cleaning – When and How Is It An Option?
Doing anything other than a quick inspection or a brushing on a dog is nigh-impossible without anesthesia. No matter how well-behaved your dog is, it just won’t take anything more than that without protest. X-rays, for example, can’t be done with no sedation and extractions are a non-starter.
Are There Precautions You Can Take To Ensure That The Anesthesia Is Going To Be Safe?
The first and most important precaution to take is to inform your veterinarian about all of your pet’s known health conditions. From there, the vet should be diligent enough to take further precautions such as blood work and other tests. So, technically, the other precaution you can take is to find a good vet.
Aside from that, general health maintenance is the best way to prevent anesthesia accidents – good food, regular exercise, and routine vet check-ups will ensure that your dog is as healthy as possible at all times.
Overall dog dental cleaning cost you can expect
A trip to the vet for canine dental care can cost anywhere between $450 and $4,500, depending on what you need doing. The anesthesia and X-ray are big expenses but there are even bigger ones such as teeth extractions, root canals, and others. So – pretty much the same as with people, just with anesthesia.
How Important Is Dental Care For Dogs?
Tooth hygiene is as crucial for dogs as it is for people. Without proper dental hygiene, your dog will very likely start developing Cavities, Gingivitis and Stomatitis, Periodontitis, a loss of teeth, and other problems. There’s even evidence of a connection between teeth problems and heart disease in both people and dogs.
So, not only is the occasional trip to the canine dentist a must but you should also make sure said trips are as rarely necessary as possible.
How To Take Care Of Your Pet To Minimize The Need For The Dog Teeth Cleaning Anesthesia Cost?
If you want to avoid going for professional dental work as much as possible, you should maintain your dog’s dental hygiene at home. This usually means getting your dog used to getting its teeth brushed from an early age. This is quite easy to do even if it doesn’t sound like it – check out our text on getting tartar off a dog’s teeth for some insight.
Additionally, you should also give your dog plenty of new chew toys which also help with teeth hygiene. Quality food is obviously also crucial.
In Conclusion, What Is The Dog Teeth Cleaning Anesthesia Cost, and Should You Fear The Procedure?
All in all, canine anesthesia really isn’t the big problem most people make it out to be. If your dog has certain heart or other health conditions you should consult with your vet first. However, in most other cases, the anesthesia is a necessary component of a hugely beneficial procedure. The dog teeth cleaning anesthesia cost is unpleasant too, but the major teeth care procedures are even more costly so it’s not the biggest money drain either.
