Teeth Cleaning for 12 Year Old Dog?

My female German Shepherd mix is scheduled for her physical and senior blood panel next month.


She is healthy but does have incontinence and takes Proin daily. I have noticed that her gums bled when I gave her a bone a few months ago and notice that it takes her longer to eat her cookie bone than it used to. Her teeth are discolored and I can see tatar and plaque.


From what I can see, the teeth are not broken nor do they appear decayed. My concern is gum disease.


I am worried about putting her under anesthesia at this age. .


Your answers are appreciated.


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Teeth Cleaning for 12 Year Old Dog?
Make sure the vet uses Iso Flo gas Anestassia, it's the safest for us and them. It's best to get them cleaned all that bacteria, and infection she's swolling it's good for her heart, lungs, kidney's or liver it'll affect them the same as us, if we let those things go. Best of luck
Reply:Her age could be a concern, but you are getting geriatric blood work done before hand, so that will show any abnormal levels.
Reply:Discuss your concerns with your vet prior to the appointment date. As tartar and plaque build up she'll have some bleeding, this is normal. However, she could have other problems with her mouth and it should be addressed with the vet. If it's nothing serious, some vets will clean their teeth while they are under anesthesia.
Reply:I'm not a veterinarian; so I don't have any expert advice, but this is what happened to my neighbor's old dog. She was never the same after the teeth cleaning and died a few months later. My friend said she wished she had never agreed to it.
Reply:Our GSD had terrible teeth when we got her from rescue at 2.5 years old, but we give her raw bones once a week, and her teeth are now pearly white and her breath is now much better. I'd suggest dental chews, or raw bones. Don't give cooked bones as they could splinter and injure her.





If you think her teeth and gums are sore, then get your vet to check them out and see what he suggests. At her age though, I'd try to avoid putting her under for a dental.





I've never used dog toothpaste, but it could be a good option if you're concerned about her ability to chew bones.
Reply:We had the same problem with my 12 year old shih-tzu, and recently she had surgery, so while she was already under the anesthetic they cleaned her teeth. Surgery and all she did wonderfully, and you can barely see her scar now!


My grandmother's 13 year old boston had her teeth cleaned as well, and she's happier for it.





If she's healthy otherwise, then she should wake up fine. I wouldn't worry too much. The physical and blood panel are a good thing, but I would bump it up to some time sooner if possible. She's probably uncomfortable, and it makes it hard to eat.
Reply:If she is healthy, and her bloodwork comes back okay, I'd say it's worth the risk- bad teeth can really be a problem.





My 10 year old standard poodle had her teeth cleaned in December, and did GREAT! (She, too, is on Proin.)
Reply:Why not try brushing first? Talk to your vet and see what he or she says about the teeth. They may need to be cleaned, they may not. I'm not sure if it's worth the risk or not. Your vet will be your best source for help with this.





I'd certainly discuss other options before putting her under.





Even young dogs have bleeding gums from bones so that's not always a problem.





You can also try those hard rope "bones" and let her chew on those. They help clean teeth as well. My 14 yo c@cker mix chews on those now instead of hard bones. She loves them and they help keep her teeth and gums in the best shape they can be....





Good luck!
Reply:-I had the same problem with an older dog. There are several breeds that are genetically pre-disposed to periodontal disease and since you have a mixed breed, it is very likely periodontal disease. Only your vet can tell you the risks for your dog based on her overall health and pre-op blood work. The pre-op blood work will help your vet determine her risk. My dog (who lived to be over 15 yrs old) had to have his teeth cleaned every year and usually needed extractions. His teeth were not decayed, it was all gum disease. It really needs to be treated because the gums get infected and cause pain and discomfort to the dog. My dog did fine through his yearly dental care. His last dental was at the age of 14 1/2. By the way, the normal life expectancy for his breed was 11-13 years. Over the years he had many teeth pulled and recovered and adjusted just fine.
Reply:At her age, it is very important that she have a complete blood profile done before she is anesthetized. It will let the vet know if anything is wrong and if her organs are functioning at their best. Your vet will determine if she is not a good candidate for anesthesia.





Bleeding gums are usually a sign of gum disease and I'm sure she just needs a professional cleaning.





I understand your concern. My dog is going in tomorrow morning for her dental cleaning and even though she is only 6, there still are risks and I am worried.
Reply:There is anesthesia-free teeth cleaning for dogs. I'm in Northern Cali and the company that did my 13 year old mini poodles first time ever cleaning is called Canine Care. I was worried about putting him under too since he is old and fragile but they were recommended by the nice lady that does his grooming and since her dogs are like her babies, I felt comfortable. The bonus is that they periodically come to her shop to do it too. I hope that helps!
Reply:I would talk to your vet. They are the only ones who legally can give teeth cleanings. There are products on the market that you can buy that you can brush your dogs teeth with. Talk to your local pet shop to find what you need.


Best of luck!


Jennifer


Pet store owner


Little Pets


http://www.littlepetsonline.com



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