When we have our pet’s teeth cleaned, it's because we want to do the very best for them. We want a healthy pet that lives a long and happy life. You might have heard of anesthesia-free dental cleanings at pet stores, a groomer, or even some veterinary professionals. This is a service that is often less expensive and is seen as a risk-free alternative that improves our pet’s dental health. We in the veterinary field refer to this as "non-anesthesia dental scaling" and, quite frankly, we find it to be an unsafe dental procedure.

If your dog becomes sick, the source of their ailment isn’t always obvious. Maybe your veterinarian suspects there is an internal problem, but the exact source can be tough to pinpoint. Surgery could be an option, but that can require a lengthy recovery period.

So your pet needs surgery? We know it’s stressful to think of your dog or cat undergoing surgery, but know your veterinarian wouldn’t recommend it if they didn’t think it was necessary.