To prevent painful oral health issues, or to help restore your pups good oral health, professional dog dental cleaning and exams are essential. But what exactly happens when you bring your dog to Advanced Care Animal Clinic for a dental exam? Our Smokey Point vets explain.
Hey fellow dog lovers! I’ve been getting this question a lot lately at our clinic, and I thought it was time to address it properly. The short answer? Yes, your dog should have blood work done before teeth cleaning But there’s more to it than just a simple yes or no, so let’s dive into the details!
Why Blood Work Matters Before Dental Procedures
When I first started working with pets, I honestly didn’t realize how important pre-dental blood work was. I mean, teeth cleaning seems pretty routine, right? But here’s the deal – dental procedures for dogs require anesthesia, and that’s where things get serious.
Blood tests before dental cleaning serve several crucial purposes
- Safety screening – Makes sure your pup can safely handle anesthesia
- Detection of hidden issues – Finds problems you can’t see from the outside
- Baseline establishment – Creates a health reference point for future comparisons
- Medication adjustment – Helps vets customize anesthesia protocols for your dog
What Blood Tests Actually Show
Your vet will typically run two main types of blood work
- Complete Blood Count (CBC) – Checks for anemia, infection, and clotting ability
- Chemistry Panel – Evaluates kidney and liver function
The chemistry panel is super important because your dog’s liver and kidneys are responsible for metabolizing and processing all those anesthesia medications. If there’s any problem with these organs, it could affect how your dog handles anesthesia.
As Dr. Stark from KeepingDog points out, “These organs especially do not usually start to show noticeable symptoms of disease on the outside until quite advanced, and the kidneys and the liver play a huge part in how the body metabolizes all of the sedative/anesthetic medications.”
Real-Life Example: Why This Matters
Let me share a story that really drove this home for me. At Bingle Vet, there was a cute little toy poodle named Angel who came in for a routine dental cleaning. She was only five years old and seemed perfectly healthy – bouncing around the clinic, tail wagging, totally normal.
Before her dental cleaning, they ran the standard blood work and discovered an acute liver problem! If they had proceeded with anesthesia without knowing this, Angel could have experienced serious complications. Even more importantly, her liver issue would have gone undetected until it was potentially too late.
With proper medication and treatment, Angel was able to get her teeth cleaned safely a month later. This kind of story happens more often than you’d think!
Is Blood Work Really Necessary for All Dogs?
You might be wondering if blood work is just an extra expense that vets push on everyone. I’ve had those thoughts too! But the statistics are pretty eye-opening:
About 20% of senior dogs that appear completely healthy during a physical exam actually have an underlying disease that can only be detected through blood work. That’s one in five dogs!
Even for young, healthy dogs, pre-dental blood work provides important benefits:
- Early detection of countless diseases
- Better understanding of how anesthesia might affect your specific pet
- Opportunity to adjust medication protocols for optimal safety
How Long Are Blood Test Results Valid?
This is a question I get all the time! If your dog had recent blood work, do you need to repeat it before a dental procedure?
Generally, blood test results are considered valid for about three months. However, this timeframe can vary depending on:
- Your dog’s age
- Existing health conditions
- Your vet’s specific protocols
If your dog is older or has known health issues, your vet might recommend more recent blood work even if it hasn’t been three months.
What Happens After the Blood Work
Once your vet has the blood work results, they’ll review everything and create a surgical plan. The possible outcomes include:
- Normal results – Dental cleaning proceeds as scheduled
- Minor abnormalities – Dental cleaning proceeds with adjusted anesthesia protocols
- Serious medical issues – Dental procedure is delayed to address health concerns first
The Cost vs. Benefit Question
I know veterinary care isn’t cheap, and adding blood work to an already expensive dental procedure might seem like a lot. Trust me, I’ve been there with my own dogs!
But when I think about it, the extra $100-200 for blood work is a small price compared to:
- The potential cost of emergency care if something goes wrong
- The peace of mind knowing my dog is safe for anesthesia
- The value of catching a serious health problem early
My Personal Recommendation
As someone who’s seen both sides of this issue, I strongly recommend pre-dental blood work for all dogs, regardless of age. Even for young, seemingly healthy pups, blood work can catch problems before they become serious.
Blood work is never harmful to your animal and always comes recommended to ensure a safe anesthesia experience and happy recovery. The risks of skipping this step simply aren’t worth it.
What to Ask Your Vet
When scheduling your dog’s dental cleaning, here are some good questions to ask:
- What specific blood tests do you recommend for my dog’s age and health status?
- How soon before the procedure should the blood work be done?
- What would cause you to cancel or postpone the dental procedure?
- If my dog recently had blood work, do we need to repeat it?
Key Takeaways
Let me break this down into the simplest terms:
- Blood work before dental cleaning is strongly recommended for all dogs
- It checks liver and kidney function, which is crucial for anesthesia safety
- About 20% of healthy-looking senior dogs have hidden issues detected only by blood tests
- Results are generally valid for 3 months, but this varies by dog
- Pre-surgical blood work provides a baseline for your dog’s health
- Early detection of issues can save your dog’s life and save you money in the long run
Final Thoughts
I’ve seen firsthand how pre-dental blood work has saved dogs’ lives by catching problems early. While it might seem like an optional add-on, I consider it an essential part of responsible pet care.
Remember, our dogs can’t tell us when something’s wrong internally. Blood work is our window into what’s happening inside their bodies. It’s one of the best ways we can protect them and ensure they’re with us for as long as possible.
So next time your vet recommends blood work before teeth cleaning, you’ll know exactly why it matters so much!
Have you had experiences with pre-dental blood work for your dog? Did it catch anything unexpected? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below!
After Your Dog’s Dental Exam
After your dogs dental examination, cleaning and treatment are complete, your pup will be closely monitored while they wake up from anesthesia. During this time we will keep your dog warm and comfortable and begin preparing for your pup to head home. The majority of our canine patients go home the same day as their dental appointment.
All dogs are different typically you should expect your pet to begin recovering from the anesthetic within a few hours of heading home. That said, in some cases, it can take 24-48 hours for the lingering effects of the general anesthetic to wear off. During this time, your dog may seem drowsy and have a reduced appetite.
In some cases, dogs may be a little sore from having their teeth cleaned or from having one or more teeth removed. Depending on the condition of your pups oral health and what dental treatments they had done, antibiotics and/or pain medications may be prescribed by your vet to help make your dogs recovery from treatment as quick and painless as possible. If your dog requires medications your vet will be sure to provide you with detailed instructions regarding when to give your dog medications, and how often.
If after 24 hours your pet has not returned to their normal self, please call us right away as there may be an unexpected complication interfering with your dogs recovery.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pets condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
Before Your Dog’s Dental Exam
There are a few essential steps that should be taken before your dog comes in for their dental healthcare appointment. These pre-appointment steps help to ensure that your dogs appointment and recovery are as safe and painless as possible.
Your dog will be examined by a veterinarian to ensure that they are healthy enough to safely tolerate the general anesthetic and the cleaning procedure. Your vet will examine your pups heart for murmurs or other abnormalities. If your dog has any cardiac concerns, your vet may recommend chest radiographs (X-rays) or a cardiology examination. Your vet will also look for signs of anemia on the mucous membranes.
Drawing blood from your dog to check liver and kidney functions is the safest way to determine if your pooch is fit enough to be sedated safely. Blood tests are especially important for older dogs since senior dogs are more at risk of serious illness such as kidney or liver disease. If your dogs bloodwork indicates that your pet could have liver or kidney disease they will not be put under anesthesia.
Dogs with severe dental infections or gingivitis may be prescribed antibiotics a few days before the procedure to prevent complications and to help resolve the infection.
If your dog is having a dental cleaning, they should not be allowed to eat or drink anything for about 12 hours before the procedure. Fasting helps to prevent your dog from vomiting while under sedation, which can lead to serious complications. Fast your dog the night before the dental procedure. Your vet will provide you with detailed instructions before your dogs appointment day.
When is a DOG Too old for a Dental Cleaning?
FAQ
Do dogs need blood work before a dental procedure?
Just as you would need to have blood work done before having a medical procedure, so does your pet. On admittance to the hospital for a dental procedure, a blood sample is drawn by the surgical veterinary technicians for pre-surgical blood work.
Do I need a blood test before a dental cleaning?
Prior to dental cleaning, we always recommend blood work to assure that the pet is healthy enough to withstand sedation. Our typical day turned gray when we completed Angel’s blood test and learned that she had an acute liver problem. If we had sedated her, she might have had complications.
Why do I need a dental test for my Pet?
By running these tests we can help reduce the risk of anesthesia, diagnose underlying medical abnormalities, and perform the safest dental procedure possible. Just as you would need to have blood work done before having a medical procedure, so does your pet.
What should I know before cleaning my dog’s teeth?
Disclose Every Dog Medication and Supplement Before Cleaning Teeth. Some medications or supplements (such as fish oil or omega-3) can cause thinning blood. Be sure to tell your veterinarian every single pill and supplement your older dog has been taking so they can inform you of which ones to stop prior to going under anesthesia.
What is blood test timing for dog dental work?
Blood test timing for dog dental work involves making sure results can be viewed in a timely manner for dental work, which may involve anesthesia – the tests are a pre-anesthetic screen. Generally these blood tests are good for three months, but the time can be longer or shorter depending on the age and health of the particular animal.
Should a pet have a pre-surgical blood test?
If the results are normal, the dental procedure can then be performed. Pre-surgical blood work is not just for detecting abnormalities, but it also confirms that your pet is healthy and helps to establish a baseline for your pet’s overall health in the future.
Is pre-anesthetic blood work necessary for dogs?
How do I prepare my dog for a dental cleaning?
Do vets do bloodwork before teeth cleaning?
Prior to dental cleaning, we always recommend blood work to assure that the pet is healthy enough to withstand sedation.
How long will my dog be at the vet for teeth cleaning?