Dental Support

Hello, my old spaniel has very bad teeth. He went in to have a dental a couple of weeks ago and unfortunately he had abit of a bad turn when they started his pre anaesthetic meds, so they woke him up. They said they’d be able to try again with other meds but I really don’t want to risk it! His breath stinks! Can anyone recommend anything to use that might help? He’s not unwell with his teeth, and eats fine but they are really bad. He’s 13 & I don’t want to risk it again. I’d rather he had bad teeth than die!

Hello - I hear that this episode has been very stressful and concerning to you.  I hear how worried you are about this GA.  At the same time, I am interested that your vets are open to trying again under a different general anaesthetic and that you are not.  I wonder what your vet understands differently about the situation that makes them suggest trying again?  You see this epoisode as a massive red flag but I am actually pleased that your vets were honest about not being happy to proceed with the anaesthetic on that day; that they stopped, reconsidered, cancelled the operation (which would have caused inconvenience and a considerable loss of profit to them as well as being potentially worrying a client ie you) and still  suggested that they reschedule.  If anything, this suggests that they have set your dogs' needs above losing face or making money.  I haven't met your dog, but in many cases where an owner will freely say 'his breath stinks,' a mouth is likely to be in a bad way and potentially causing pain. At a certain point - as with our mouths - tooth brushing or feeding special chews or giving a special rinse, is no treatment for a painful, infected mouth which frankly could be a welfare issue, depending on the severity of it.  I do not understand your dogs' circunstances or the severity so, in your position, I would ask to talk to the surgeon.  Explain your concerns, ask what would be different next time, ask they would do in your shoes and take it from there.  No anaesthetic is risk-free;  having filthy teeth is not risk free, either.  Sometimes there is no right answer, but having heard what your vet had to say and then gone away abd ruminated on it, you now understandably have more questions to settle and I'd argue that its important to talk it through, in terms specific to your own dogs' circumstances.   Wishing you and your golden oldie all the best with this.