Anesthesia free dental cleaning revisited

I wrote an article for SFGate.com on one of my pet peeves, so-called "anesthesia-free dental cleanings" for pets. I interviewed Dr. Stephen Holmstrom, one of the few board certified veterinary dental specialists in the country, and Nancy Campbell RVT, DVT, a Washington state veterinary technician with special training in both veterinary dentistry and anesthesia.

One of the things that kind of half-amuses and half-irritates me is that a few people, having read the article, have emailed me, sharing with me the wonders of feeding a raw diet or a diet with bones, and how that will negate the entire need for veterinary dental care. A few have offered to put me in touch with some raw feeders so I'll be able to learn about it.

I shouldn't be irritated, since I don't state in the article that I have fed a raw diet to my dogs and cats for over 21 years. But I do mention natural diets, albeit only in passing, in a "food for thought" way. And of course, my very first article for SFGate.com was about homemade diets, including raw diets.

Mostly, though, is another one of my pet peeves: The idea that raw feeding solves all problems. It doesn't. I've had lifelong raw, BARF-fed dogs who still needed dental care.

In addition, most dogs eat kibble. While I'm happy to try to change their owners' minds about that, the reality is, I'll be successful with very few of them. For the vast majority, information about how to safely get good care for their pets' dental needs is much more useful and potentially lifesaving to their pets than a thousand unheeded suggestions to give the dog a bone.

Whatever your opinion on that, here's a sample and a link to the complete piece:

Remember that the real culprit in dental disease is not the tartar you can see but the bacterial growth you can't see: under the gums, in gingival pockets and in the bone. It's not possible to properly examine a pet's mouth while he or she is awake, let alone actually probe gingival pockets and detect infection in the bone. Scraping off the visible tartar may make the teeth prettier, but it does nothing for the pet's health. And if it stops an owner from getting proper dental care for a pet who needs it, masks a serious dental problem, causes aspiration pneumonia or seeds the bloodstream with oral bacteria, how is this a good thing? How is this safer than anesthesia in the hands of an expert?

So while your fear of anesthetizing your dog or cat for a dental cleaning is natural and understandable, the solution to that fear isn't to seek out less qualified individuals who tell you what you want to hear, but to work with more qualified practitioners who really know what they're talking about.

Complete article here.

Comments

[Tess]

I totally agree with your article!!!

The tarter that you can see should be a wake up call that there's most likly lots more bacteria under the gums. Your pet needs a cleaning and exam under anesthesia where every tooth can be examined regardless of what you can remove without anesthesia!!!

Tess

[Cynthia Blue]

Interesting, I didn't know that (your article excerpt). Good thing to know. My dogs eat raw, too, but only for the last year. Lucy has great teeth and has never needed them cleaned, Angel has awful teeth and needs them cleaned every now and again. The vet told me it can have a lot to do with genetics.

[Frost DVM]

I have seen this procedure and as a DVM I am so impressed!!!! This is an amazing service when done by the correct technician and done in an Animal Hospital. I would highly recommend a company called [EDITED BY CHRISTIE TO REMOVE EGREGIOUS SPAM POSTED BY LIAR PRETENDING TO BE A VET USING A FAKE AND CLEARLY FORGED EMAIL ADDRESS BUT HEY NICE TRY YOU PARASITE]. They take there time and are so patient with the pets. I have had many situations where if the technicians find something they stop and recommend an anesthetic dental. [ADDED BY CHRISTIE AGAIN: This is a lie, it's spam, and it's bad for your pets.]

[san diego]

I also agree with you. the tartar is the sign that there are lot of bacteria under the gums and it needs a dental treatment.

-heather-

[Peterson]

I personally don't think my dog would go for it and would probably bite the hygienist and shake the entire time. And from what I've read, the bacteria that is on the teeth can be very toxic if inhaled.
Mechanicsburg PA Dentist