My Stressful Experience with Sofi's Fussy Teeth
add_circle Pros
- The vet explained everything clearly, so I knew what to expect.
- The ultrasonic cleaning was a total game changer for Sofi's teeth.
- The vet's staff was super friendly and helpful throughout the whole process.
- The facility was clean and well-maintained, which put me at ease.
- The vet took the time to answer all my questions and address my concerns.
- The anesthesia worked quickly, and Sofi was comfortable during the procedure.
remove_circle Cons
- Sofi's anxiety level was through the roof, and it was hard to see her like that.
- The blood tests and echocardiogram were a bit of a hassle, but I get it.
- The anesthesia took a while to kick in, and Sofi was squirming around.
- The vet's office was a bit of a drive from my place, but it was worth it.
- The bill was a bit steeper than I expected, but I know it was worth it for Sofi's health.
- Sofi's gums were way worse than I thought they'd be.
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Editor's Summary
I've got a super anxious Jack Russell terrier named Sofi who freaks out at the vet. She's super feisty, won't listen to any commands, and will do whatever it takes to save herself. We recently took her in for a dental cleaning, and it was a total nightmare. The vet explained everything clearly, and we were prepared for the procedure. But Sofi's got some pretty gnarly gums, a stone, and a nasty breath smell. And the past week, it's been super obvious that her teeth are bothering her. I'm still trying to process everything we learned, but I'm glad we took the step to get her checked out.
Specifications
Hello everyone!
after ultrasonic cleaning after 40 minutesI've got a super anxious jack russell terrier named Sofi who freaks out at the vet. She's super feisty, won't listen to any commands, and will do whatever it takes to save herself.
So, it was time for a dental cleaning, and we knew she'd need to be under anesthesia.
Sofi's got some pretty gnarly gums, a stone, and a nasty breath smell. And the past week, it's been super obvious that her teeth are bothering her.
We found a vet through some recommendations and off we went.
How to prepare for the procedure?
1. Before the ultrasonic cleaning, they usually ask you to run some blood tests (clinical and biochemical), and do an echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart).
But some clinics might let you opt out of the pre-procedure testing.
2. Don't feed your dog for at least 8 hours before the cleaning, but you can give them water. We didn't feed Sofi the night before, and the cleaning was at 12 pm.
3. Make sure to take them for a walk beforehand.
What happens during the ultrasonic cleaning?
1. The vet examines your dog, weighs them, then gives them an anti-histamine shot in the thigh.
2. About 20 minutes later, the vet inserts an IV catheter in one of the dog's legs and administers the anesthesia.
3. The vet then takes the dog to the operating room and starts cleaning their teeth.
Apparently, a dental X-ray before the cleaning is a must, but our vet didn't mention it to us.
4. The whole cleaning process takes about 30 minutes.
After a while, the vet called me into the operating room and showed me Sofi's teeth, gums, and gave me some recommendations.
5. After the cleaning, the vet brought Sofi out and said she'd come around in about 20 minutes.
Of course, our Sofi was freaking out so much that the vet had to give her a tiny sedative in one leg first, just to calm her down. She managed to bend the catheter a bit, and it was impossible to get the medication in right away. Once Sofi calmed down a bit, the vet put the catheter in the other leg and administered the necessary dose. She even fell asleep. The vet didn't shave her fur at the catheter site because Sofi wouldn't cooperate.
Photos of my dog's teeth before and after the cleaning (the second photo was taken a few days after the cleaning)
The bad breath was gone, my dog was eating better, and her teeth looked healthier and whiter.
My dog, Sofi, came out of the anesthesia pretty smoothly, and within 40 minutes she was almost back to normal, although her coordination was a bit off.
What to do after teeth cleaning?
To keep things simple, I'll just post a photo of the discharge instructions the vet gave me.
She also needs to have her mouth rinsed with Miramistin and apply Metrogyl Dent gel.
We fed our dog a wet food to avoid irritating her gums, but you can also switch to dry food (we actually feed this) right away, but I specifically bought a can of wet food for her.
Her first meal after the procedure was around 6 hours later.
She didn't vomit, and there were no other negative side effects. The only thing was that she was less active than usual.
The procedure isn't cheap; we did it at a state-run vet clinic, which is cheaper, but you never know what might come up, like extractions or stitches, and that's extra cost.
After the ultrasonic teeth cleaning, it took a few days before I let my dog eat anything hard, and I treated her gums with Miramistin a few times, and I even applied Metrogyl Dent gel on her gums a couple of times, but she just licks it off, so I stopped using the gel.
As for oral care, the vet recommended buying any toothpaste and applying it to her teeth, then cleaning them with a cotton swab a few days later, which you can do once a week.
I'd say - don't be afraid to get ultrasonic teeth cleaning done for your pet if it's necessary. There are a lot of health problems waiting for your pet (and you too) if you have severe dental issues and don't do anything about them, and losing teeth is not even the worst thing.
Wishing you and your pets good health!
