Ruminations of a Canine Cosmetologist ~ Personal insights and experiences in the dog biz.

Brought to you by Shampoodles Grooming Studio.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Anesthesia-Free Dental Cleaning

There has been a lot of talk recently about dental care for your pets.  A healthy mouth is very important for overall health, just as in humans.  The question is, how do you provide maintenance care for your dog?  Having teeth simply brushed once a month or less may freshen breath and remove loose debris (like food), but it does nothing to improve condition of the teeth.  This is why, while I offer teeth brushing as a cosmetic perk, I don't strongly promote it (plus I'm just a terrible sale-person. ;-)  However, there are options beyond basic brushing which many other pet professionals offer.  As I am continually educating myself on new pet care techniques, I have looked into some of these methods and products.  Most I don't care for, but a few are on my list to consider futher.
The big thing now is anesthesia-free dental cleaning.  It sounds great, but it is a controversial technique.  My main issue is that it is not necessarily as safe - or effective - as it's cracked up to be.  Of course, for every nay-sayer, there are also plenty of success stories.  So this one is tentatively on my list... however, (procrastination and busy schedule aside) I am not rushing to delve into deeper research and become adept at the technique(s) in order to add on the service.  My reasons are explained very well in the two following articles.  Another very valid concern is that such cleanings are not legal in most states!  Obviously, if it turns out NH does not allow non-veterinarians to perform detal procedures, then it matters not how much we all like the results or what my potential added income may be.
So what can be done, then?  Sorry to burst your bubble, but it does come down to brushing your pet's teeth at home.  I know, I know, I'm bad about keeping up with that too.  Other beneficial maintenance includes feeding a raw diet and/or offering bones for your dog to chew (kibble does NOT keep teeth clean no matter what they tell you), or try using an oral care spray such as Petzlife.  Dental gels such as Oxyfresh commonly used as toothpaste can also be applied quickly with your fingertip instead of brushing, as the product generally does more work than the toothbrush.  Brushing action mainly serves to remove loose stuff but can not make a dent in actual tarter buildup.  No matter what you choose though, the key is doing it regularly.  That means more often than every few weeks when you have your pet groomed.

Here is a simple, but well written article from a vet regarding anesthesia-free dental cleaning.
http://speakingforspot.com/blog/2011/11/27/anesthesia-free-dental-cleaning/

For more information, check out Whole Dog Journal's coverage of the technique.
http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/7_11/features/Canine-Teeth-Cleaning_15666-1.html
p.s. I highly respect WDJ as a reliable source for good health advice.



Update:
Here is a list of laws by state regarding dental procedures on pets.
https://www.avma.org/Advocacy/StateAndLocal/Pages/sr-dental-procedures.aspx

Currently, this issue is not specifically addressed here in NH.