Dr. Doug Mader's - "To Your Pet's Health"
Sunday, February 7, 2010
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By Dr. Doug Mader

Q. I have a 15-year-old rat terrier with a 3-4 systolic murmur on a scale of 6. She is also pretty blind, deaf and senile. She has had two mini-strokes in the last two years so she walks a little on the crooked side. She has been on one pill a day of Furosemide 12.5 mg since May '08. She was a very picky eater most of her life (she was a "give-up" in '01) but in the last year her appetite has been great. She whines a lot, I believe because she is senile. It usually coincides with her trying to fall asleep or make her bed more comfortable.

Here is my concern: her teeth. They are the pits! My veterinarian says that he can't clean them because she is too old and has the murmur. The vet said that it could only be done by a specialist. I started her on Clavamox once a month for 10 days a few months ago just in case she has any inflammation. I don't want her to be in pain. I also know that no blood profiles can be done right if a dog has inflammation and we might need that down the road.

Do you think her teeth can be cleaned? Is that a possibility? The last time her teeth were cleaned was April '07. I just started her today on another 10 days of Clavamox, so when should I bring her in for a dental cleaning?

I look forward to hearing from you and thank you for taking the time to respond.

-- Love my Dog

A. Age and heart disease should not be a factor in deciding whether or not a dental should be done. Dental disease is linked to many serious health concerns such as heart disease, kidney disease and more. That said, your dog should have a very complete physical examination prior to any anesthesia so that the specific anesthetic protocol can be custom tailored to your dog. This evaluation should include blood tests, an ECG to properly evaluate the heart and x-rays of the chest, and during the dental cleaning, x-rays of the teeth.

Dentals are performed on pets with murmurs all the time and it is not uncommon to perform dentals on older pets -- if you think about it, that is the typical patient population at risk for dental disease. Think of it this way: When a pet is under anesthesia they are totally relaxed, breathing pure oxygen and their vital signs (heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, etc.) are being constantly monitored.

There are veterinary dental specialists but it is not necessary to take your pet there for a routine cleaning. You just need to find a veterinarian with the capabilities of advanced anesthetic protocols.

I think this is very important. Over the next month I will talk more about the necessity of proper dental health for the longevity of your pets.

Dr. Mader is an ABVP board certified veterinary specialist practicing in the Keys. Send your questions to Mvh525@aol.com.