If you’re the parent of a senior dog, tooth extraction is probably something you hope never needs to be part of your dog’s oral health plan. However, sometimes it is unavoidable. To help put your mind at ease, integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby explains why a senior dog might need a tooth extraction and what you can expect from start to finish.
When I am talking with clients about why their senior dog needs a dental procedure, it seems most are worried about two things—the anesthesia for the procedure and the fact that their dog may need some teeth extracted. As a dog mom, I get it.
And as a veterinarian with a huge soft-spot for senior dogs, I know how vital dental care can be for their comfort and wellbeing. That’s why I want to help you feel a bit more comfortable about what goes into a dental with extractions.
What are the reasons for a senior dog tooth extraction?
Let’s start by getting right to the heart of the matter—why your senior dog might need a tooth extraction in the first place. As you know, dogs need their teeth taken care of just like humans do. This involves brushing their teeth regularly, ensuring they have safe chew toys for dogs, and scheduling professional veterinary dental cleanings as needed.
However, sometimes your dog’s teeth may become unhealthy or damaged despite your best efforts. This is especially the case if you have a small breed dog. They tend to be genetically prone to crowded teeth and poor dental health. Both of these problems increase the chances that a dog tooth extraction may be necessary at some point in a small dog’s life.
In general, senior dogs may need tooth extractions for the following reasons:
- Broken or chipped teeth (such as from chewing on wire crates or antler chews for dogs)
- Loose or wiggly teeth
- Unerupted tooth (a tooth that never fully came through the gums)
- A tooth angled in the wrong direction or in the wrong position
- Dog tooth abscess
- Periodontal disease (i.e. dental disease in dogs)
- Dead or decaying teeth
- Teeth that are near or part of an oral tumor
These are the most common reasons that your veterinarian might recommend extractions for your dog. But they are not the only reasons.
Extraction decisions are best made during the dental procedure
Often the vet won’t know for sure whether your senior dog needs a tooth extraction (or extractions) until your dog is under general anesthesia for the dental cleaning. Most of the problems on the list above require the vet to be able to X-ray the teeth and probe around them. And those things are only possible under anesthesia.
Next, let’s take a look at some clues that your dog might need a tooth extraction.
What are the symptoms of dental problems in dogs?
Sometimes you will be completely shocked that your dog needs a tooth pulled because he or she seems totally normal. But other times you may have seen some warning signs such as:
- Bad breath—This is probably the most common symptom that dog parents notice. And contrary to what some people may believe, bad breath isn’t normal for older dogs, or any dog. If your dog has “dog breath” it may mean he or she needs dental care.
- Decreased appetite or difficulty eating—If a dog’s mouth is painful, he or she may not be interested in eating. Or, if your dog is still eating, you may notice him or her yelp or cry out when chewing.
- Bloody gums—You may notice blood on the outside of your dog’s lips, on the food or water bowl, or on your dog’s bones or chew toys.
- Plaque or tartar—If your dog lets you examine his or her mouth, you might notice a yellow, brown, grey, or black film on your dog’s teeth. Or, in more severe cases, it may look like the dog has clumps of material or a shell covering the tooth.
- Swollen lymph nodes— Your dog’s submandibular lymph nodes (i.e. the ones under the chin) may become enlarged due to dental infection. (To find these lymph nodes, check out my dog lymph node location chart .)
- Swelling beneath your dog’s eyes—The upper tooth roots lie in the sinuses below the eye. Infection can travel up the root and create an abscess.
- Pawing at the face—Rubbing or pawing at the face can be a sign your dog is in pain from his or her teeth.
Don’t ignore the signs of dental disease
As you can gather from these signs (or perhaps attest to from your own experience), dental problems can be extremely painful. Sadly, many dogs suffer silently for months or years with dental pain. Sometimes a dog parent won’t even know how badly their dog was hurting until suddenly their dog is happily scarfing down his or her food and running about like a puppy again after a dental procedure.
Additionally, maintaining good dental health is important for your senior dog’s cardiovascular (i.e. heart) health. If your dog has a severe dental infection, it can begin to negatively affect your dog’s heart. Plus, dental disease can impact your dog’s liver, kidneys, lungs, and overall health.
For these reasons, it is better to address dental problems sooner rather than later. If you see the signs above or suspect your dog has dental disease, please make an appointment with your vet.
What can I expect at the vet visit?
At the appointment, the vet will start by gathering information from you about your dog’s dental health and symptoms. Then he or she will perform a dental exam, physical exam, and bloodwork on your dog.
Finally, your vet can give you an estimate for what the dental procedure and possible tooth extractions may cost. However, please know that this estimate can vary significantly depending on what the vet finds once he or she anesthetizes your dog.
Dental exam
The dental exam will help your veterinarian start to assess the degree of your senior dog’s dental issues. It usually gives enough information for the vet to decide if the dog would benefit from a dental procedure. However, an awake dog isn’t going to let the vet fully examine the mouth or take X-rays. This means the vet may not know the full extent of the tooth damage or which teeth (if any) need extracted until the dog is under general anesthesia.
Understandably, this need for anesthesia often raises the question “Is my dog too old for anesthesia?” To explain my line of thinking, allow me to quote one of my favorite sayings—“Age is not a disease.”
In other words, just because your dog is a senior, he or she shouldn’t automatically be considered “ill” or “disabled.” Senior dogs can still be very healthy and do well under anesthesia. Therefore, your dog’s age alone isn’t a reason to avoid anesthesia. Instead, you should speak with your vet about whether anesthesia is safe for your dog.
Physical exam and diagnostic testing
Prior to proceeding with anesthesia, the vet will do his or her best to ensure your dog is a good anesthetic candidate. This starts with a complete nose-to-tail physical exam to assess your dog’s heart, lungs, and other systems. Plus, the vet will probably perform some bloodwork such as a chemistry panel and complete blood count. These tests are helpful for evaluating your dog’s organ function and red cell, white cell, and platelet numbers. Sometimes the vet will also suggest other tests like chest X-rays or blood pressure measurements.
Together, these examinations and tests can help screen for common geriatric dog problems that might make anesthesia more complicated. Some of these conditions include:
- Heart disease in dogs and heart murmurs in dogs
- Abnormal blood pressure (i.e. hypotension or hypertension in dogs)
- Liver disease in dogs
- Kidney failure in dogs
- Seizures in dogs
I want to be clear that those conditions don’t necessarily mean your dog cannot have anesthesia. That is a decision you and your vet need to make together. It is often quite possible to make a safe anesthetic plan for senior dogs, even those with pre-existing conditions. Plus, dental procedures have a huge potential to greatly improve a dog’s quality of life. This often makes anesthesia a risk worth taking.
What can I expect while my dog is under anesthesia?
Even so, knowing your dog is under anesthesia for a dental procedure can be nerve wracking. But please rest assured that the whole veterinary team takes anesthesia very seriously. They will to do everything they can to avoid and quickly address any anesthetic complications.
The veterinary team will typically take the following precautions any time a dog, especially a senior dog, is under anesthesia:
- Ensure that any other conditions are well managed and accounted for when making an anesthetic plan. This may involve modifying the anesthetic drug protocol for dogs with heart issues, checking the blood sugar of a diabetic dog, etc.
- Place an IV catheter to allow immediate access to the dog’s circulatory system should the dog need any emergency drugs. The vet will also use the catheter to give your dog IV fluids during the procedure. This can help maintain your dog’s blood pressure to provide adequate blood flow to the organs and tissues.
- Have a dedicated veterinary nurse monitoring your dog for the duration of the procedure. He or she will use specialized equipment to track your dog’s blood pressure, oxygenation, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, and more. If any of your dog’s vitals become unstable, the veterinary nurse can alert the vet and they can spring into action.
- Continue to monitor your dog during the recovery period. A veterinary team member will check on your dog regularly and take his or her vitals. This is why your dog needs to stay at the clinic for several hours after the procedure.
Working with a veterinary specialist
As an added layer of safety, the vet may also want to involve a specialist in your dog’s care. This tends to be the case if your vet suspects your dog’s anesthesia or dental will be particularly challenging. Sometimes the vet will feel comfortable performing the procedure at his or her clinic after developing a plan with the specialist.
In other cases, your vet may decide it is best to refer your dog to a specialist. This is often a veterinary dentist if the dog needs fairly extensive or specialized dental work. If your vet doesn’t have a particular dentist he or she recommends, you can find a veterinary dental specialist on the American Veterinary Dental College’s website.
Alternatively, if the vet feels that anesthesia is going to be the most challenging aspect, he or she may recommend going to a specialty clinic with veterinary anesthesiologists and veterinary dentists on staff.
What can I expect during the dental procedure?
Once your dog is anesthetized for the dental procedure, your veterinarian can further assess your dog’s teeth. The first thing he or she might do is take dental X-rays of your dog’s full mouth. X-rays will allow your vet to look at the integrity of the teeth and the roots below the gum line. Since much of the destruction from dental disease occurs below the gum line, these X-rays are vital for evaluating the teeth.
Your veterinarian will also perform a visual examination of your dog’s teeth and gums. He or she will look for signs of decay, abscesses, broken and missing teeth, or pockets around the teeth. Pockets occur when there is a gap between the tooth and the gums. If this occurs, the tooth isn’t as solidly rooted in its spot. As a result, the tooth may be predisposed to infection, decay, or fractures.
If the visual examination and X-rays reveal any unhealthy teeth that are causing problems and pain, the veterinarian may recommend pulling those teeth. No one likes to think about their dog losing teeth. However, I can assure you that dogs often feel much better without these bad teeth.
Sometimes the vet or a veterinary nurse will call you in the middle of the procedure to go over which teeth need to be extracted and to give up an updated cost for the extractions. But other times it is isn’t possible or practical to check in with dog parents in the middle of the procedure.
Senior dog tooth extractions
During the tooth extractions, your veterinarian will give your senior dog nerve blocks much like your dentist would do. A nerve block involves injecting a local anesthetic near the nerve associated with the tooth being removed. Even though your dog is already under anesthesia, this provides additional numbing and pain relief which can last for several hours after the procedure.
The veterinarian will use his or her dental instruments and drill to carefully extract any of the diseased teeth. Then the veterinary team will take post-extraction X-rays to ensure that the vet removed the entire root. Finally, the veterinarian may suture the gums together again with dissolvable suture.
Occasionally, the dog’s jaw may break before, during, or after the extractions. While the vet always uses the utmost caution during extractions, severe dental disease can weaken and destroy the bone in the jaw to the point that it loses its integrity. Plus, senior dogs with other health conditions can also be prone to weaker jaw bones. In the event of a jaw fracture, your veterinarian will contact you to discuss the next steps.
Teeth cleaning and polishing
A veterinary nurse will also perform a dental cleaning while your dog is under anesthesia. First, he or she will use an ultrasonic scaler to remove the plaque from your dog’s remaining teeth. Then the nurse will polish the teeth to get rid of any microscopic scratches created by the scaler. This makes the surface of the tooth smooth, which helps prevent plaque-forming bacteria from adhering as easily.
What are the post-extraction instructions?
Once your dog has recovered fully from the anesthesia, he or she can go home. At the time of discharge, the vet or veterinary nurse will give you specific post-procedure instructions. It is important that you follow these instructions carefully to help your dog have the best and fastest recovery possible.
Some general guidelines include:
1. Administer pain medications as directed.
As you might imagine, extractions are painful. Therefore, your veterinarian will typically send your dog home with pain medications including a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and possibly a second pain medication. Ensure that you give those medications exactly as directed so you dog receives adequate pain control. If you feel your dog is still painful, please consult with your vet. Do not decide to give your dog extra doses of pain medication on your own.
2. Soften your dog’s food for a few days.
Your veterinarian will also give you directions about feeding your dog. He or she might recommend giving him or her softened food for a few days. This may involve adding water to the dry kibble or feeding your dog wet food. It is important, though, that you do not drastically change your dog’s meals. Diet changes can upset your dog’s stomach, and your dog may already be somewhat nauseous from the anesthesia.
3. Allow your dog to determine his or her activity level.
Unlike other types of surgery, your dog may not need to be exercise-restricted during the recovery period. Most likely your veterinarian will say that your dog can resume his or her normal activities following the extractions.
What can I expect during my senior dog’s tooth extraction recovery?
Following your dog’s procedure, he or she will likely be very tired when you get home. This is to be expected. Your dog just spent all day at the vet hospital and went through oral surgery. Plus, he or she might still be a bit groggy from the anesthesia.
If your dog wants to curl up somewhere and sleep the rest of the night, do not be alarmed. It is good to let your dog relax and rest. However, you do still need to wake your dog up to administer the pain medications and/or other medications as prescribed.
That night or the next morning (depending on your vet’s instructions) offer your water and some softened dog food. Keep in mind that since your dog received IV fluids during the procedure, he or she may not drink as much water at first. Also, he or she may not eat quite as much as usual at that first meal or two.
Watch for complications of a senior dog tooth extraction
The first three days following anesthesia are when you are most likely to notice complications. It is important you keep a close eye on your dog during this part of the senior dog tooth extraction recovery period. The most common complications that owners notice are related to pain or the anesthesia, but there can be a few other complications as well.
If you have ever had surgery yourself, you might remember feeling very nauseous afterward. This is a common side effect of anesthesia. Therefore, your dog might experience mild vomiting, diarrhea, or decreased appetite after surgery. If this continues for more than two days, I recommend scheduling a recheck with your veterinarian.
The other common complication, especially after extractions, is pain. While having a clean and healthy mouth is very beneficial to your dog, your dog may be uncomfortable for the first couple days of recovery. There also might be substantial inflammation in your dog’s mouth. Therefore, you may notice:
- Pawing at the face
- Decreased appetite
- Tilting the head at an abnormal angle while eating
- Drooling
- Sensitive if the mouth is touched
- Facial swelling
If you think your dog is painful, please speak with your veterinarian. As I mentioned before, do not give extra doses of pain medication without consulting your vet.
Sometimes dogs might also have some extraction site bleeding. Very mild bleeding is fairly common, especially if your dog had severe dental disease. If there is profuse bleeding, please consult your veterinarian immediately.
Finally, remember it is normal to see some sleepiness in your dog along with some decreased eating during this time. But as your dog’s mouth heals and the anesthesia wears off, your dog should quickly return to normal. If he or she doesn’t or you have any concerns, please contact your veterinarian.
On the road to recovery
Once you get through those first few days, most dogs quickly start to feel better. They are usually less painful and can start to appreciate their fresh smile. Your dog’s appetite should return and he or she will probably get more spring in his or her step. Often families are amazed at just how much better their senior dog feels after the dental. Veterinary dentistry really can be life-changing for your dog!
Your veterinarian will likely want to recheck your dog’s mouth about 10 to 14 days following the oral surgery. During that appointment, your vet will ask you how your dog has been doing at home. Then he or she will examine your dog’s mouth, with special focus on the extraction sites.
Most sutures that vets use when closing teeth extraction sites will slowly dissolve over time. However, if there are any that are not dissolving, your vet will probably remove them at the recheck.
At this point, you can breathe that final sigh of relief. You and your dog have made it through the senior dog tooth extraction recovery period. Now, you can focus on promoting good oral hygiene and delaying the time until your dog needs another dental. If you have questions about how to do this, your veterinarian is a great resource.
Can’t I just pull my dog’s loose tooth at home?
After reading about everything that goes into senior dog tooth extractions, some of you may be wondering if there is an easier alternative. If your dog’s tooth is loose or broken, can’t you just pull it out yourself?
The answer is a resounding “No!” While dental disease may lead to old dogs losing teeth on their own, you absolutely should not pull a tooth at home. I say this for a few reasons:
- The tooth is probably painful. Even the best dogs can bite when in pain.
- If you pull the tooth, it is very likely that a portion of the root will break and be left behind. This is painful for your dog and can lead to infections and other problems.
- If your dog has one loose tooth it is likely that he or she needs a full dental cleaning and possibly other extractions. It is important to address the health of your dog’s whole mouth sooner rather than later to avoid more problems down the road.
- Dental work should always be performed under anesthesia for your dog’s comfort and wellbeing.
Let me say it again. Please leave dental work to your veterinarian or a veterinary dentist! Your dog will thank you.
Don’t let fear of a senior dog tooth extraction stand in the way of your dog’s comfort
I understand how difficult it can be to think about your beloved senior dog undergoing anesthesia and possibly having some tooth extractions. But I am here to say that it is worth it! I have heard countless stories from dog parents who were amazed by how much better their dog felt after the dental. And they often say that they wish they would have done it sooner.
If your senior dog is having tooth troubles, please speak with your veterinarian. He or she would be happy to walk you through the pros and cons of a dental procedure and answer any questions you might have about the anesthesia or extractions. Like any procedure, it does have its risks. But the reward is a happy dog with a pain-free smile who can get back to enjoying life to the fullest without dental pain getting in the way.
How has a dental and tooth extractions improved your dog’s life?
Please comment below.
My 12 year old chihuahua mix, Charlie just had 16 teeth extracted yesterday, and so far he is healing up wonderfully. Just within 24 hours he seems much happier, obviously in less pain, and already begging for table scraps at the dinner table, (which he did not get). My only advice to someone suffering from the same fears I did is this… I wish I would have done it months ago. I feel guilty that I allowed my fears to impact his quality of life. I was so nervous he wouldn’t wake up after the procedure, or that something would go horribly wrong, but here he is, sound asleep on my lap, perfectly content.
Hi Nicki,
I’m thrilled to hear that Charlie is feeling so great after his dental and extractions. It really is amazing what a difference it can make for some dogs. Thank you for sharing your story and for the words of wisdom for other dog parents in a similar situation. I hope that in time the guilt you feel fades. It is scary to think about putting your beloved senior pet under anesthesia, so I understand your initial hesitation.
I hope Charlie keeps doing well and you get to make many more memories together.
My 11 year old westie, Lily, already had 12 teeth out 2 years ago. She had a respiratory attack when coming round from the anaesthetic, we very nearly lost her but she pulled through.
Sadly, the same vets have advised she needs more teeth out, she scratches at her chin and also licks a lot, she has bad breath which is why we got her checked out in the first place.
I am genuinely petrified to put her through this again, but I also don’t want her to live in pain.
I have no idea if the dental procedure is necessary or if she even is in pain. as she still eats her hard food, dental sticks, treats and everything else with no issues. She still plays with toys and seems happy. I don’t want to put her through this and potentially lose her if her teeth are causing no pain. The vets advised they couldn’t say if she would be in pain or not as dogs are good at hiding it.
What do I do?
Hi Leanne,
I understand your concern for Lily and how scary anesthesia can be. You are right to be cautious especially since she had some complications after her last anesthetic event. Is there a way your vet could take some dental x-rays to get an idea of how bad the teeth are? Don’t forget you can ask for a consultation with a dentistry specialist if needed. I like to rely on their expert opinion when dealing with more complicated cases. Also, it could be helpful to talk to your vet and get more details on the respiratory attack that happened previously. Your vet may be able to change up their anesthesia protocol to prevent it from happening again or there might be precautions that could be put in place to reduce the risks of another attack. I do like to try and treat dental issues before they turn into big problems. So, if your vet is thinking extractions are needed, you will probably end up having to make a decision at some point even if you postpone it for now. Ultimately, you have to go with your intuition and do what you think is best for your pup. Praying for a positive outcome for Lily and wishing you both the best.
My chorkie is 11 years old. Has tartar build up so bad that teeth are loose. Vet said she needs teeth extracted and a cleaning. She also has a mass on her back that she is going to remove, as well as two warts on her lips AND she is going to get spayed. She wants to do the spay so that it helps prevent cancer. Am I crazy for doing this? I am so scared. Last time she was supposed to have the surgery, I couldn’t do it and I turned the car around half way there. Vet said shes in good health. She had blood work done yesterday and still waiting for the results. I am just a nervous wreck right now
Hi Stephanie,
I understand your hesitation to have all these procedures done at once. There are pros and cons for every situation and as long as you are making an informed decision, I am not sure there is a wrong choice here. The negative aspect of having multiple surgeries done at the same time is your girl may be painful in several areas of her body and the anesthesia time will be longer. The benefits are there will only be ONE anesthetic event instead of multiple and once recovery is over you are finished! I am glad you had lab work done and hope it comes back with great results. Praying for peace of mind and comfort with your decision.
My dog, Hal, 13 years old, had several teeth extracted yesterday. He has a heart murmur, so the vet was extremely careful with the anesthesia. He made it through thank goodness! However, he still hasn’t eaten. He won’t even go near his food, or if I put it in my hand, he won’t eat it. It’s soft/wet food. I’m supposed to give him pain medication and antibiotics with food, but if he’s not eating the food, should I still give the medicine to him? It’s oral medication.
Thanks for any advice.
Hi Rob,
I am glad your senior guy made it through his dental procedure and is back home recovering. You should definitely reach out to your vet with this concern. They need to know Hal isn’t feeling his best and is avoiding his food. I usually will have my clients go ahead and give the pain medication even if their dog isn’t eating. Pain is the number one cause of inappetence after a surgical procedure. Your vet may advise you otherwise, but I feel like it is worth discussing. Hoping your sweet boy will start feeling better soon. Good luck!
Thank you! He’s doing much better now, eating more, and has been receiving his medication.
Hi Rob,
This is great news! Hoping Hal will continue to improve and make a full recovery. Thank you for the update!
Have the Vet give you an RX for Science Diet Urgent care food. It’s a mush wet food. My dog just went through full extraction and gobbled the food from day 2. I continued the food until day 14 then watered her reg kibble.
Good luck with your furry friend
August 21, I took my 13 year old Chihuahua to pull out two of her tooth 24 hours after that she started breathing fast, and today she still breathing fast. Vet told me she has high blood pressure. She’s not eating just drinking a lot of water. She can’t stand strong. I don’t know what to think no more, is she suffering, is she going to die, I’m a mess ,
Dear Ivette,
I understand your concern for your senior girl and these recent health problems she is facing. Without examining your dog, myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations. It would be a good idea to have her evaluated by your vet if they have not seen her since the dental procedure. It is also ok to contact a specialist or get a second opinion if you have lingering concerns or questions. I hope your sweet girl can stabilize and her quality of life can be restored. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Hi, my 12 tr old Papillion has recently had 7 teeth extracted and had a dental clean at the same time and he went from being very much in pain poor love to being a very happy dog again. 2-3 weeks later, he got ill again – another high temperature, stopped eating so I suspected another infection because very similar symptoms as before. Maybe the holes where his teeth were have got infected again. Back to vets and he’s now back on antibiotics and starting to get better again but he keeps licking his paws and rubbing his cheeks. Like a lot, like he’s really itchy or sore. He won’t let me look. It’s very worrying. – is this normal and just a sign that everything is healing or should I be worried? Thanks, Clare
Hi Clare,
I understand your concern for your senior guy. His pawing at his cheeks has me suspicious there is something going on that still needs to be investigated further. Did you pup have dental x-rays performed? If not, I would highly recommend discussing this with your vet. Hoping all is well today and your sweet boy has made a full recovery. Wishing you both the best of luck!
My 13 year old westie had 15 teeth removed at her last dental in July after a few days she started pawing at her face and hasn’t stopped we returned to the vet who thought some root may have been left so she had another procedure and had 2 further teeth removed (she has just 2 left) it has now been 4 weeks and there has been no improvement and she came round from her procedure now deaf in both ears our vet has no answers for us. We are devastated – do you have any thoughts please?
Hi Mandy,
Goodness I am so sorry for all your sweet girl has endured. What you describe has me puzzled and I am not sure I would know what to do myself. It might be a good idea to reach out to a veterinary dentistry specialist. Has your girl had dental x-rays performed? I am suspicious there could be something wrong with the underlying bone in the jaw leading to the discomfort your pup is experiencing. Deafness can sometimes be a rare side effect of certain medications but usually will resolve some on its own. I truly think I would defer to a specialist in this situation (possibly internal medicine?). I am hopeful you can find some answers and applaud you for continuing to advocate for your senior girl. Wishing you both the best and praying for a positive outcome.
Worst case scenario; 11 year old male, 15 pounds, full set extraction, currently presenting with gum regression and visualization of jaw bone. The dog will have to be put down? Save his life via extraction $1,500? $3,000? More?
Hi Bradley,
My heart goes out to you as you face this difficult situation. I am not sure what the best course of action would be for your senior guy. What is your vet recommending? Extractions and a thorough dental cleaning can be nothing short of a miracle for dogs. But I also know that in some cases, saying goodbye can be the most loving option. If you are conflicted on how to proceed, you can always request a consultation with a veterinary dentistry specialist. Hoping you can find the answers you need to make a decision you can feel confident in. Wishing you both the best.
I have a 16 year old Pomeranian whose teeth are in pretty bad condition. I haven’t brought her in because at 16 years old I don’t know if I would be ok with having her endure anesthesia and an oral surgery. Her teeth don’t seem to bother her, she still eats and begs for food. I feel like a terrible dog mom but I just don’t want to put her through any stress. Am I wrong for not taking her to the vet?
Hi Noelle,
I understand your concern with anesthesia and how that might affect your senior girl. I do think it would be best to have her evaluated by your vet. Even if a dental procedure is not an option, there could be other things your vet would recommend that might greatly improve your dog’s oral health. Be honest with your vet and discuss your worries and goals for your girl’s quality of life. I am certain you can partner together to make sure your sweet girl’s senior years are full of joy and comfort. Wishing you all the best of luck!
Dear Dr. Buzby,
Thank you for this article and I came from your other article about senior dogs and anesthesia. I have an 17 year old poodle/bichon mix, and he’s doing surprisingly excellent for his age. However, in the past week or so, he has had really intense chattering of his teeth which we and his vet have attributed to his dental issues (he had most of his teeth pulled over 5 years ago but the one’s left are in bad shape and we now know are very much bothering him). We took him to the vet today, and they began talking about putting him down, which broke our hearts. Since he has heart disease, we were told that he can’t be put under anesthesia anymore. Upon his checkup today, they told us based on X-rays his heart has not progressed to heart failure yet. It is also my priority that he not be in pain, but he continues to have high energy levels, a big appetite, and seems generally very happy. Before his chattering in the last couple of days, he was still walking 2-3 miles on his walks. I can’t reconcile that our only option is to put him down when he seems to be so happy, with his teeth being the only real issue here. He was prescribed some different pain medications for now from the vet as we thinking about next steps. We are thinking to take him to the cardiologist again to get a more updated idea of where his heart condition is at to see if we really can’t get his teeth extracted. Any advice or thoughts you have for us would be much appreciated.
Hi Ann,
I am sorry you are facing this difficult situation with your senior guy. It sounds like you are headed in the right direction and are thinking along the same lines as I would with one of my own. I agree the first step is to get the cardiologist’s approval for anesthesia. If they think the dental procedure is possible, I would consider going forward with the extractions. If this is something your vet is uncomfortable with, you can always ask for a referral to a veterinary dentistry specialist. Of course, there are always risks and no procedure is guaranteed to be without complications. Since your sweet boy is still full of life and otherwise happy, I too would struggle with the thought of choosing euthanasia at this point. Praying all goes well and hoping for a positive outcome. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
Our 13 year old tsuh zu has a history of gastrointestinal problems and her platelets drop. Once so low she needed transfusion.
Ewhat should playlets read to be safe to possibly have all her teeth removed.
Hi Direen,
I understand your concern with anesthesia and your senior pup’s history of platelet problems. I am not sure what level your pup would need to achieve for your vet to be comfortable with proceeding with a dental procedure. Each lab that evaluates blood work for dogs has a reference rage that is considered “normal”. One of the more common reference labs used in the U.S. is IDEXX. According to IDEXX’s reference lab, the normal range for platelets in a dog should be somewhere between 143-448 K/uL. I hope this helps a bit. If you have any lingering questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your vet. Best wishes and good luck!
The worst thing that happened with our older Yorkie mix was that he lost his smile ! It may be a nervous tic, but a lot of yorkies smile at people ….and they love it!
He was a rescue and had several serious health problems .Probably older than they said. He has passed away now at close to 13 and we miss him dearly.
Hi Jen,
I love it when these little guys smile! I know you miss your sweet pup but what a blessing to have shared 13 years together. May his memory live on and stay with you always. ♥
Our 11 year old dog had a cleaning and tooth extraction when he was about 8 years old which resulted in severe thrombocytopenia (we did blood work beforehand and his levels were just barely normal and he needed the procedure, so we went ahead with it). We almost lost him, but they were able to stabilize him with meds and we were then able to wean him off everything within about 8 months. He’s been in remission since, but I think he might need another extraction (or at least a thorough cleaning). Can this be accomplished with his history of thrombocytopenia following a previous extraction (maybe by premedicating or using a different type of anesthesia)? Thanks for your time!
Hi Mindy,
I’m so glad to hear that your dog’s thrombocytopenia stabilized and he has been in remission. That must have been so scary, and I can definitely understand your concern with doing another dental procedure. Without being able to look at his medical records and examine him, it is difficult for me to say with any certainty what the safest course of action would be. Unfortunately, all of the causes of immune-mediated-thrombocytopenia/ITP (which is what I am assuming he had based on your description) are not well understood yet. This makes it difficult to predict what might trigger a relapse. Dental care is definitely important, so I would suggest scheduling a consultation at a university hospital or specialty clinic where the different groups (internal medicine, anesthesia, and dentistry) can all work together to formulate the best plan for your dog. Best of luck to you and him! I hope you are able to find a safe way for him to have the extraction and/or cleaning.
I need advice! My puggle is 13.5 years old with liver tumors. She gets an ultrasound every 6 months and is in dire need of a dental cleaning and I am sure she may need one or two extractions. Can she have such have this procedure done? I don’t want to do the wrong thing!
Hi Robin,
I am glad you are having your dog’s liver closely monitored. She is a lucky girl to have someone like you advocating for her health and well-being. Without examining your dog, myself, I can’t make specific recommendations about anesthesia. Situations like this are common with senior dogs and they often do just fine with dental procedures. It really depends on what your vet recommends. Once they do the necessary pre-operative lab work and testing, if the results are favorable, your girl may be a good candidate for anesthesia despite her other chronic issues. Please make sure your vet is aware of your concerns and voice any lingering questions you may have. You want to feel as comfortable as possible with whatever decision you make. I will attach links to other articles with more information. Wishing you both the best for a successful dental procedure and many happy days ahead.
1. Is My Dog Too Old For Anesthesia?
2. Is My Dog Too Old for Surgery?
I just had my cattledog/chow mix’s teeth removed, I feel so bad tho, he has dry socket on 2 of this front canines and the vet is closed for 4 days bc of a blizzard and Xmas, and all the emergency vets are 1.5 hrs away and I can’t get to them w the ice. I wanna warn people just to watch out for popped stitches and openings in the wound, even if your dog hasn’t touched them the licking can do it… (He’s on antibiotics and a doggy nsaid until I can get him over when they open)
Hi ghost,
I am so sorry your boy is having these painful complications when veterinary care is just out of reach. Glad you had some pain meds to help try and keep him comfortable until the ER reopened. How are things today? Hoping all is well and he has made a full recovery.
My 8 year old Chihuahua who is 6 pounds had dental surgery 5 days ago with 2 extractions and cleaning. She was eating well, playful, showed no signs of being in pain before the extractions. Today is day 5 post surgery, I have to encourage her to eat and she eventually does after much encouragement, she barely will drink anything, we used to take long walks, now she can’t go very far without sitting down and I have to pick her up and carry her home. Ive followed all instructions on the paper I was given, she had 3 once a day doses of Metcam which she took. I spent so much money on the surgery that I have to wait until next month before I can take her back to the vet as I’m on a fixed monthly income. My dog is now isolating herself away from me, she is urinating and having bowel movements, however, she isn’t the same dog anymore. She had an antibiotic shot after the surgery, I’ve examined her mouth and see no swelling or redness or bleeding. I just feel terrible because she was perfectly fine and never showed any signs of pain or not eating or drinking and was active and playful before the surgery. I have read by now that she should be back to normal, today is day 5, I wish I hadn’t had this done. Ive stayed awake with her several nights trying to comfort her but she walks away from me and goes on her own. If I just put her food out, she will not eat it unless I encourage her non stop, Ive been a using a syringe to give her Pedialyte every hour to help keep her hydrated. I’m just at a loss, I feel like I’ve failed her by having this done because she just has no interest in anything anymore.
Dear Charlotte,
I understand your concerns over these behavior changes in your Chihuahua. Since I haven’t examined her myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. I am wondering if your pup was starting to show signs of early dementia prior to her dental procedure. Sometimes anesthesia can cause dementia to worsen or progress. I know a follow up vet visit is not an option at this time due to financial limitations but think this is probably the only way to get some answers. How is your sweet girl feeling today? Has there been any improvement? I hope you can get her examined by your vet soon and am praying for good news. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Wishing you both the best.
My Mini Pin, “Diego” is 13 years old. He has always been a good eater and never leaves kibble in his bowl. One evening he did not want to eat. I began to pet him and found his skin was hot to the touch. I took him to emergency and found he had 104 degree temperature. After they did blood work, they discovered his liver values were off the charts. They kept him overnight to try and bring his fever and liver values down. They were successful in bringing his fever down but not his liver values. After taking him to his normal veterinarian, he determined something he ate messed up his liver pretty bad. We found bird feathers in his dog bed, and figured he got hold of a bird. This happened 3 months ago. Since then, we’ve had to change his diet, and put him on a bunch of medication to help his liver recover. His doctor has done 3 more blood workups only to find his liver values have only come down slightly. He wasn’t sure what was causing Diego’s compromised liver. Now, forward to today; Diego came in from outside yesterday, and started rubbing his face on the carpet and pawing at his mouth. I thought I saw a string from one of chew toys in his mouth, but before I could yank it away, he had swallowed it, (so I thought). I took him to his veterinarian where they did x-rays, and an endoscopy. They had to put him under in order to look in his mouth, and decided his teeth needed to be cleaned as well, (which they did). Turns out Diego had 4 impacted and infected teeth which had to be yanked out.. I only wish I had understood the signs he was exhibiting sooner: rubbing his face on the carpet, pawing/scratching at his muzzle. I’m looking forward to his next bloodwork up to see if his liver values have come down to within a normal range. Thank you Dr. Burney and staff!!!
Hi Karen,
I am so glad you have such a wonderful partnership with your veterinarian! What a blessing they were able to discover the dental issues and address them quickly the same day. I am very hopeful you will see some improvements in Diego’s lab work when his liver values are rechecked. If you have a chance, please leave us an update once you get results. Thank you for taking the time to share your story. Wishing you and Diego both the best! ♥
My min schnauzer is 16.5 yrs. He has a tooth on bottom behind canine that is rotten, canine has a little hole at base and some bottom incisors are loose. He’s only had about 4 teeth extracted in life. For the past year, I’ve had 3 vets tell me he’s too old for anesthesia. He has a 4/6 murmur, had echo a year ago no required drugs, BUN is a little elevated, degenerative muscle loss in lower back, wears toe grips which really help. I believe because of the tooth he drools on that side while eating and sometimes gags – clear drool. I’ve been brushing 1-2xs daily and clean with an oral rinse….suggestions?
Hi Donette,
I understand the difficult position you are in with your little pup. While there may be reasons that anesthesia is not safe for your dog, age alone should not be one of them. Different vets are more or less comfortable with certain anesthesia events and procedures. If you want an expert opinion about your dog’s teeth, I highly recommend you schedule a consult with a veterinary dentistry specialist. They have tons of experience dealing with complicated cases. If the specialist says your boy is not a good candidate for anesthesia, then they will recommend the next best treatment option. You are doing a great job with the daily brushing and oral rinse. Thank you for the positive feedback about the ToeGrips. Keep up the good work!