Is Dog Teeth Scaling Safe?

Proper dental health is important for your canine. You probably already know that and may be wondering what your options are. If you take your dog to the vet and ask him about cleaning your dog's teeth, he or she will surely suggest the procedure called dog teeth scaling.

I have nothing against vets for this whatsoever. That method for cleaning canine teeth is highly effective and it is one of the services their business offers. However, there is a severe downside to canine teeth scaling. I suggest before you have this done to your dog, you first go onto the Internet and search Google images. In there you will find photos of dogs undergoing the procedure. Although it is not as invasive as a surgery, I think you'll be surprised exactly how the process looks.

Your dog will have to undergo general anesthetic. Although most dogs do fine with the drugs used for anesthesia, there are a significant number who do not. In fact, there are deaths associated with the anesthetic. It is especially dangerous for older dogs. Unfortunately, it is often the older canines who need the cleaning the most. As they age, the tartar seems to build up more easily than when they were a puppy.

Just to put the risk in perspective, if the rate of human deaths during anesthesia was as high as the one for dogs is, it would not be allowed. Always ask your vet about the real risks...especially if you have an older dog.

Also, did you know that after the scaling the dog has to go on a round of antibiotics? Yes, usually it is a ten day course of drugs that your dog will have to take. The reason for this is that during the scaling there is often blood present while probing around and under the gums. When the blood stream is exposed to the bacteria found in tartar, there is risk that it can migrate to other parts of the body and cause severe side effects.

These drugs can often lead to stomach distress in some pets and other side effects which must be dealt with. And just a note of reminder here to pet owners; once a round of these anti-biotics are started, they must be completed totally even if there are no symptoms and the pet seems to be fine and healthy. Quitting the drugs too early can lead to breeding resistant bacteria in dogs. This is a very important advice to follow.

What I suggest is not waiting for the tartar to build up heavily. Instead, begin the process of dog teeth cleaning in a natural and safe way before the need for tooth scaling is required. If the tartar is severe, it may be in the dog's best interest to remove the buildup as soon as possible. But if the teeth can be cleaned safely and effectively at home with all natural products, owners should consider this method.

The Cactus Canyon web site offers dog owners more information about maintaining proper canine dental health.