I feel the vet says dog needs a professional teeth clean how essential is it?

[PossumInAPearTree]

Current dog I thought had pearly white teeth until the vet showed me at the checkup the other week she has some more teeth further back in her mouth which I'd never noticed. These are a bit brown. I do clean her teeth a couple of times a week but she doesn't like it and tries to run off, clamps her mouth shut, etc so I just don't think I'd ever got a good look in her mouth. Now I know they're there I know to get my little finger brush further back and I'm clamping her between my legs and she's having a full brush every day.

I think they're looking a bit better.

Vet she needed to come for for a full dental some time in the next few months under a GA.

Years ago I had a rescue greyhound with slightly manky teeth who you couldn't get near with a toothbrush. She had yearly dental at the vet and when she was 7yo she died at the vets immediately after her dental, in the recovery cage. They've never been able to explain why.

So I'm reluctant for current dog to have a dental.

Is there an element of the vet thinking slightly brown teeth we can make some money out of this? Surely if I'm now doing better brushing and they're improving I can keep going with this?

Probably. a lot of vets try to make money from people when it's not necessary.

Personally unless they're causing them pain or agro, or something is actually happening to the teeth I would leave them be and continue brushing them and looking after them as you are.

Raw bones and avoid dentastix!

Wow. Sweeping statement Sparkling!
Why not go back to the vet and ask them to reassess? Gum disease is grim. By the time they're suffering it is too late for a dental. Also once the plaque has formed you won't get much off at home. It needs a proper dental.

Massive generalisation from the Vets Assistant there . Do you trust your vet OP , if not then take her to see somebody else and get a second opinion . I agree with wolfie that it's difficult to get plaque off when it's been there for a while without a proper clean .

You could also mention your fears to them. They may be able to reassure you.

Isn't it the case with most insurance policies for dogs that they are required to have an annual dental examination. I believe dental treatment due to decay and neglect as well as other problems linked to poor dental hygiene are one of the highest ranking claim areas? Bit unfair to suggest it's really about just making money
Personally I think it is a good thing to have their teeth checked and cleaned once a year. They always check my dogs heart, general health and suitability for GA beforehand and the difference in her teeth and breath is amazing.
She is now used to it and even let's me check her teeth and gums myself.

Ime insurance doesn't cover teeth cleaning.

I don't know if I trust the vet or not. The senior vet was on holiday when my previous dog died. The other vet did the dental and gave me the impression dog had died during the procedure and it was one of those things.

Vet nurse let slip a few days later that the dental had finished, dog had woken up and was put in a cage and was found some time later, dead. So I have no idea if it was a delayed reaction to the GA, whether she bled to death (they removed some teeth).

The previous year the senior vet had stopped the dental halfway through as she had concerns about the dogs observations. She was a greyhound and I understand they're not great with GAs? Anyway vet the year she died said she had coped fine with the GA and they'd had her under for 90 mins.....I wonder if she was under GA for too long considering her history.

Senior vet came back from holiday and never discussed it with me apart from tomsay I had to pay the £300 bill which I did.

Current dog, there's a big difference with her teeth. They were mid brown a couple of weeks ago and are a much lighter brown now, stuff seems to physically brush off. Dog is getting much more used to having her back teeth done. They look better than they did even a few days ago.

I think a second opinion is a good idea. Thanks.

I think I would have found a different vet TBH after the last dog . We use quite a large practice but if I want an absolutely honest opinion I will only see 2 of the vets as I don't know the others well enough to judge them fairly IYSWIM .

Well so far current dog has only needed vaccinations which I trusted them enough to do. But yes I think a new vet is needed now.

I think greyhounds can have problems with anaesthetics - something to do with their low percentage of body fat. My greyhound has just had £500 worth of dental work - 4 teeth removed and a descale and polish.

I would find a different vet though as trust is essential

It never hurts to get a second opinion and if I didn't feel I could trust my vets then I would go somewhere else. Totally understand your worry given your other dog and I would mention it to them so they can talk you through the pros, cons and risks of the procedure in detail.

I'm not in the slightest bit surprised you are concerned. What an awful shock to lose a dog like that. I'm so sorry.
There are certain vets (one really) I don't trust at our practice. I need to be able to trust them.
Hope the second opinion clears things up.

My dog has dental cover on his direct line policy as well .

Vet complimented me on my 8yo dogs wonderful white teeth and said my teeth cleaning routine must be exemplary......

I have never cleaned his teeth and told her this.

She promptly suggested I should start and recommended their range of brushes and toothpastes!!!

It sounds as if there is a problem with your vet - I'd have wanted some answers after your last experience.

Greyhounds are not higher risk for anaesthesia than any other dog. In fact brachycephalics breeds are probably the trickiest. Modern anaesthetics are quite different to the old thiopental anaesthesia that was an issue in greyhounds.

It sounds as if the monitoring may have been a bigger issue than the anaesthesia - all anaesthesia has risks but the majority of anaesthetic deaths occur in recovery and so it's important that monitoring continues until recovery is complete.

Dental disease is common and painful and can predispose to systemic illness so no, teeth cleaning is not just a money-making scam Many dogs in the uk suffer chronic pain from untreated disease. It's impossible to say if that's an issue for the OP's dog or not, but I think in your case it would be reasonable to change to a Vet you have more confidence in.

Have a "toy" never found a toothbrush small enough to fit in his mouth, have tried, he is 11 has had teeth cleaned and some removed twice before, is having it done again next week, you cannot clean plaque off. have been going to this vet for nearly 20 years, and trust him, have a chat to other dog owners, get one recomended, and then you still nedd to "like" them, same as a GP