My dog has tartar, vet wants a costly dental. Is it necessary?

Tartar buildup on a dog’s teeth is very common. The best way to prevent it is by brushing their teeth daily, usually in the evenings after their last meal. In most cases, unless the pulp cavity (the inner, live part of the tooth) or the crown (the whitish part of the tooth you can see) is damaged there is no need to remove the tooth. With a good dental cleaning (that must be done under general anesthesia) the tartar can be removed and the tooth polished so that the tooth can remain with the dog. If you are going to have a dental performed on your dog ask the veterinarian about performing dental x-rays. This will help determine the viability of the tooth. Once the x-rays are performed the veterinarian can make a better decision on whether or not the tooth needs to be removed. If tartar on the tooth is the only issue, there is no discoloration, cracks or fractures, or anything abnormal about the tooth, your dog will likely be able to keep the tooth. Pricing of dental cleanings very from clinic to clinic. Once you have your initial consultation with your veterinarian they should be able to provide you with an estimate. In the States a typical dental cleaning, depending on the size of dog and the problems present, can be anywhere from $300-$1000. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Please let us know if you have any further questions. Best of luck.

It’s time for Nena to have her teeth professionally cleaned by her veterinarian. That is very heavy tartar on her teeth and over time, she will start to get a separation of her gums from the teeth. This will lead to infections, loose teeth, dental pain and can lead to endocarditis, kidney and liver problems. She also had a retained puppy tooth that needs to be extracted as it is causing problems and stretching the socket (there should only be one tooth there). Small breed dogs tend to be prone to dental disease. They need the teeth cleaned at least once a year by the veterinarian in order to maintain good oral health. At home, brushing the teeth with dog tooth paste every day can help. Special dog foods, treats and toys can help but they don’t help clean the front of the mouth as pets don’t use that to chew. Even with this action, she will still need her teeth professionally cleaned. Better to get this taken care of soon. Once the damage is done to the teeth, it’s permanent. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

What I see in your pictures looks like tartar buildup. It happens more frequently in smaller breeds and is sometimes associated with feeding wet food. Getting her teeth cleaned by your vet will remove the tartar (you can't clean it off by yourself, it's adhered firmly to the teeth) and ensure she remains healthy for longer. Tartar buildup will trap more material, irritate the gums, breed bacteria, leading to foul breath, gum and even heart disease, as the irritated gum allow the bacteria to get into the bloodstream more easily. I recommend getting her in to see your vet for an exam and bloodwork to see how well she'll tolerate anesthesia. She will have to be anesthetized for the procedure. Trust me, this is in everyone's best interests. It greatly reduces the stress for your dog and keeps the veterinary staff from getting bitten by a frightened dog. They will remove the tartar with a scaler, polish the teeth to make it more difficult for new tartar to adhere and most likely recommend some treatments you can do at home to help slow the rate at which tartar collects on her teeth in the future.

Hi, thanks for using PetCoach! Sadly the only way to get that thick tartar off is with an ultrasonic scaler. And dogs do not stay still for this to happen awake. We also do not know the extent of the periodontal disease in dogs awake. Once the tartar is chipped away we can probe the sockets and take X-rays to determine if the roots are diseased or abscessed, which requires extraction. Leaving diseased teeth in the mouth leaves the dog with chronic pain and risk for abscesses popping through the skin. The only thing you can do at home is try to chip the tartar with your nails if Deeva will even allow you to do so. Do not get bit. You can start brushing her teeth to at least prevent further tartar build up but brushing will not remove what is there. Below is a link to the Veterinary Oral Health Council's approved products. You can try some of the products to see if they help. Also Veterinary dentists recommend a MINIMUM of 3 days a week of teeth brushing. Anything less is likely not doing anything. I wish you the best! http://www.vohc.org/accepted_products_dogs.html

That's quite a bit of tarter buildup, and it would be best to have Joshie examined by a vet to determine if she is a good candidate for a dental cleaning. Dental cleanings often involve having your pet go under anesthesia so that the teeth can be thoroughly cleaned and any damaged or infected teeth removed safely. February was pet dental health month (at least in the US), and many veterinary clinics extend dental discount packages into March, so now is the perfect time to schedule a visit and check it out. At home, brushing is always a good idea, and there are many pet toothpastes available that are palatable and can encourage your pet to get their teeth brushed (never use human toothpaste as it is toxic to pets). You can also spread some on a dental chew or other "scrubby" like chew toy to help clean the teeth. Chews like nylabones, Kongs, etc, that encourage your dog to use their teeth can help. There are also prescription diets available from your vet such as t/d which is designed specifically to improve dental health and clean the teeth while eating. It would be hard to predict lifespan, but if you're working to clean your dog's teeth and keep her healthier, then that is always going to help.

You have some great questions, and I will answer them in order :-) 1. Yes, a proper dental cleaning will require full anesthesia. It is never recommended to do a dental cleaning without it. It's dangerous and painful to the dog to do it this way, and a dental cleaning should only be done by a vet. 2. A water additive is a great addition to a dog's dental hygiene plan. I recommend Arm & Hammer dental water additive, you can get it at a pet store. Additionally, you can call your vet to ask for the name of the one they gave you for Giorgio. 3. I recommend the CET brand of toothbrushes and paste. You can probably get them at your vet's office or a pet store. 4. I recommend for treats Hill's t/d. It's a food, but you can give individual pieces as treats and it helps with his teeth. There are also dental chews. 5. No, I do not recommend trying to remove his tartar yourself. You can brush, but like with humans, he will still need a dental cleaning to get rid of all the tartar. Trying to remove the tartar yourself can hurt him, but do brush his teeth to keep them as clean as possible. I hope this helps!

Hi there! Charlotte will need a teeth cleaning under general anesthesia to make her mouth happy and bright again. Your veterinarian may take x rays to see if any of the teeth need to be pulled or filled just like your dentist does. After a thorough exam and work up-charlotte will undergo her procedure and come home with much fresher breath. Brushing after these procedures greatly helps too!