Dental & Surgical Information
Your pet will be undergoing a dental cleaning procedure today which will be performed under general anesthesia. After your pet is anesthetized, a veterinarian will perform a thorough examination of the oral cavity, an experienced veterinary technician will scale and polish the teeth using advanced dental equipment similar to what your dentist uses. If indicated, the veterinarian will order x-rays of the teeth, and will recommend extraction of severely diseased or unsalvageable teeth. Only a veterinarian or a licensed registered veterinary technician (RVT) may perform dental extractions with veterinary supervision.
Anesthetic Procedure
We use a combination of pre-anesthetic medications/injectable and/or inhalant anesthetics to achieve optimum levels of anesthesia and pain control that are safe for your pet. Your pet is anesthetized and then intubated (insertion of a tube into the trachea or wind pipe). This will ensure that your pet is able to receive oxygen at all times and prevents aspiration of any fluids into the lungs. Anesthesia is maintained with a gas anesthetic, Isoflurane, which is very safe. Our experienced veterinary technicians will adjust the anesthesia as directed by the veterinarian.
Monitoring & Pain Management
Throughout their procedure and stay, your pet will be closely monitored by an experienced technician who will utilize our state of the art monitor that records heart rate, pulse rate, oxygen levels, respiration, ECG, and core body temperature. They will assist and alert the veterinarian of any issues before, during, or after the procedure. We strongly believe in compassionate, quality, medical care for our patients. As a result, all dental patients will receive pain management as needed. Additionally, pain medication may be prescribed to go home. Additional information will be given at discharge. We hope this protocol will reduce any discomfort experienced and aid in a quicker recovery.
Intravenous Catheterization & Fluids
For most procedures, an intravenous catheter and fluid therapy will be administered to help support blood pressure, hydration, aid in anesthetic recovery, and have quick access to the circulatory system in case of an unforeseen emergency. We will have to shave a small patch of fur on your pet’s leg to do so.