The Complete Guide to Pet Dental Health: Anesthesia Safety & At-Home Care

Join hosts Laura and Marty to learn why anesthesia is absolutely necessary for your pet’s dental cleanings, how to advocate for their surgical safety and the best strategies for brushing their teeth at home.

• The Truth About Pet Dentistry: Laura and Marty discuss why anesthesia is required for a safe and effective dental cleaning. Scraping teeth while a pet is awake actually accelerates tartar build-up and prevents veterinarians from x-raying teeth or cleaning under the gum line.
• Advocating for Surgical Safety: Learn how to advocate for your pet before they go under anesthesia by requesting pre-op bloodwork, EKGs, and safe anesthetic agents. Marty also highly recommends paying an extra $5 to ensure your vet uses a brand-new, single-use endotracheal tube to protect your pet’s airway from irritation or infection.
• At-Home Dental Care: Brushing your pet’s teeth is the gold standard for dental health. Marty explains how to train your pet to accept toothbrushing and recommends using VOHC-endorsed products or a clear gel called LivFresh, which chelates calcium to stop tartar from hardening.