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My Pet World: A seven-year-old cat suddenly shows signs of aggression

Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on

Dear Cathy,

I just read the question from the owner of a senior dog who needs a dental cleaning. She was concerned about the pup undergoing anesthesia. There are dental practices that clean dogs' teeth without anesthesia by trained vet techs, literally lulling them into a state of relaxation by swaddling them. I couldn't believe they could do that, especially to one of my dogs, but it worked like a charm.

I have successfully used this practice twice with both of my dogs. It should be noted that they don't deal with chipped, rotten, or broken teeth, just teeth cleaning. I hope this information helps Katherine from Tulsa, Oklahoma, and other dog owners.

— Susan, Severna Park, Maryland

Dear Susan,

Traditionally, our pets are put under anesthesia to have their teeth cleaned, so I found your letter about this new treatment interesting and not one I had heard of before. So, I looked into this topic and found out that some dental practices around the country offer these "low-stress, holistic, anesthesia-free" teeth cleanings. They describe swaddling small dogs and cats, much like you would a baby, and offering some sort of looser wrap for larger dogs, to keep them calm. Then the vet or vet tech gently opens their mouths to scrape their teeth clean.

 

Some vets debate whether you can clean a pet's teeth well enough this way. From the websites I saw, however, the clinics offering this service clearly state that these cleanings are for preventative care and would not be a good option for pets with severe periodontal problems.

It doesn't look like this service is offered everywhere in the U.S. yet. Still, Katherine from Tulsa can do an online search for "calming techniques for non-anesthetic pet dental care" to see if she can find a veterinary clinic near her that offers this service. It sounds like a nice option for getting their teeth cleaned more frequently.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)

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