Whatcha Think??

[Jennifer and Jack]

My mom lives in the adult version of Disney World... They have all kinds of clubs, She belongs to the dog lovers club. Tonight they had a Doggie Dentist come in and speak...  This women ONLY does cat and dog's teeth. They do cleaning, root canal and other services.

I have always used Petzlife and Jack to date has always had since then mild tarter build up.. We are coming up on his fourth birthday in March. 

This Dentist states that even if you don't see any visible tarter that doesn't mean that your dog is free from disease. Jack does have stink breath at times ( sorry Jack) She said dogs need a full exam. She does a full set of x rays (just like humans get) to make sure nothing is growing in the mouth.  Then she puts them to sleep and does a full exam and cleaning. She will fill cavities and do root canals if the owners want.

She said just brushing your dogs teeth alone does not get up under the gums where the bacteria is hiding and it can cause all kinds of disease from kidney, liver and heart. Also  she said dogs are very stolic (she doesn't know Jack) and they can be walking around with a broken tooth and root exposed and we would never know.

Needless to say she is against bones and chewing on hard surfaces... 

So her fee is almost $400.00 for full x rays, cleaning and lab work to be done in advance.  I just logged on to Pet Plan to see if our insurance covers it.. It looks like it does from what I can tell... 

Points of interest.. his insurance says that if a vet recommends a dental procedure and you don't do it, they are not responsible for any disease that occurs.. To date Jack has not been officially recommended to have teeth cleaning, but Molly has.

So if Jack were to get sick and it was linked somehow to his teeth... His insurance is null and void.

I really hate, especially given he is adrenal insufficient to be put under. He doesn't have any signs of disease that I can see but what do I know????  

I am torn.... I know his insurance will cover the bulk of it but do you think she is just trying to drum up business??? I think she has some valid points but ??

Also as a side note., as I was going through Pet Plan exclusions do you know if your dog gets LEPTO and you have not kept up with vaccinations, they don't have to pay for any care related to the disease or any of the other diseases you CAN but are not required to get shots for as well.

I never noticed that before????

Why can't I ever make a rational decision when it comes to Jack ever? I swear I am educated. I swear I am not an air head but when it comes to him I just love him so much.

Do you all go to regular dog dentists? Do you let you dog get put to sleep? She said that if you don't let the dog go to sleep they can't do proper exams. 

Thanks in advance.

Signed

Crazy, Paranoid Doodle Mom.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I probably at some point will bring Jack to the real dog dentist and not a vet and have a full exam done of his entire teeth and mouth. I may wait on it but I think I will eventually get a full set of x rays as well.

His mouth is little and I can't see all the issues if he has any.. I don't feel it is urgent but as he ages it will be something that is done at least once so I have an idea.. maybe next year..

of course that is subject to change if at his four year visit his vet says otherwise.

[Amy, Cubbie & Ollie]

well i hope that all goes well at Jack's check up

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

I would never put anyone, dog or human under anesthesia unless it was absolutely necessary. Riley had a little tartar on two of his front molars so I used Petzlife and scraped off the tartar myself.  I use it on both of them once a week and so far they are both absolutely fine.  This will have to be enough for now unless a problem arrises in the future and then I will get the vet to do whatever is necessary. 

[Jennifer and Jack]

off subject but in humans colonoscopies and other testing that requires moderate sedation is not absolutely necessary but it for sure saves lives..

I think there has to be a balance in being  proactive in keeping your dogs healthy and also not riding the wave of every idea you hear that might extend a dogs life...Boy do I allow my heart strings to be played, yet there is some sense in doing your best.

Right now I usually get up on the wave and then back down after I have had time to process or discuss it on here.

 

[Judi, David & Maddie Irishdoodle]

I live in Ontario Canada and I received a notice from my vet that it is Dental Health Focus (months of February and March). I received the same letter last year.

 

Free dental checkup for Maddie

Free dental food

Free pictures of Maddie's smile for her file

 

At the bottom of the letter it states - According to the veterinary dental society, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have periodontal disease by the age of 3.  Proper dental care can increase their life by 2-5 years.

I will call to make her appointment right now and by the way my vet knows that Maddie does chew on antlers.  Her teeth were perfect at last years check up when she was 2 years old so I'm anxious to see how they are at age 3.  I do brush them but not very regularly.

I go for regular check ups every 6 months for my teeth so I will definitely get annual check ups for Maddie.