Additional Dental Services Available for Additional Cost if Needed:
Dental Radiographs
Dental Extractions
Pain Medication Injection
Home Pain Medications
Home Antibiotics
Schedule a dental exam or dental cleaning today.
Cold Spring Veterinary Clinic (320) 685-3237
St. Joseph Veterinary Clinic (320) 363-7756
Paynesville Veterinary Clinic (320) 243-4329
Pre Anesthetic Examination
A pre anesthetic examination is performed to evaluate the general health of your pet before going under general anesthesia. One of our trained professionals, a Doctor or CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician) will listen to your pet's heart. We will evaluate the heart's rhythm and sound, listening for any abnormalities or murmurs. Then we will listen to the lungs for the presence of normal lung sounds making sure to note any wheezes or crackles. The gums will then be examined for color and capillary refill time, a quick and simple testing of appropriate blood pressure and adequate oxygen intake. This examination may be a scheduled appointment, especially if we have not seen your pet before. However, the pre anesthetic examination will be repeated prior to the pre anesthetic sedation.
Nine Pre Anesthetic Blood Test
To further our evaluation of your pet's general health we will start by collecting a few drops of blood. With the help of our modern, in house laboratory equipment we will check nine different blood indicators. The blood tests will analyze:
- Hematocrit (HCT) or Packed Cell Volume (PCV) ~ This is the percentage of red blood cells circulating within the body. This is also used to detect anemia or dehydration. Red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body.
- Total Protein (TP) ~ This is used to indicate hydration status and provides some additional information concerning the liver, kidneys and infectious diseases.
- Alkaline Phosphatase (ALKP) ~ This is an important maker used to evaluate liver damage. The liver is important in the metabolization of anesthetic drugs.
- lanine Aminotransferase (ALT) ~ This is another important maker used to evaluate liver damage. The liver is important in the metabolization of anesthetic drugs.
- Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) ~ This is used to indicate kidney function. Elevation of the BUN may be cased by kidney, liver or heart disease, shock or dehydration.
- Glucose (GLU) ~ This is an evaluation of blood sugar. High levels may indicate diabetes mellitus, a commonly missed disease in our geriatric patients.
- Sodium (Na) ~ This is the essential electrolyte that helps the body maintain it's fluid and electrolyte balance. Abnormalities in Sodium levels may suggest dehydration, kidney dysfunction, heart failure or other diseases.
- Potassium (K) ~ This electrolyte plays an important role in how nerves and muscles work. An imbalance of Potassium levels may indicate dehydration or kidney or adrenal disease.
- Chloride (Cl) ~ This is an essential electrolyte that helps the body maintain it's fluid balance. A variance of Chloride levels may point to dehydration, kidney or adrenal disease.
If there are any abnormalities in your pet's blood tests one of our Doctors will contact you to discuss the options. We may decide to postpone anesthesia or further tailor your pet's anesthesia protocol. We will then address any findings in your pet's blood tests that may indicate any signs of disease or dysfunction. If all blood tests are normal we will go ahead with anesthesia. Will will also now have a good baseline of some important blood tests if future issues were to arise.
Pre Anesthetic Sedation
To help your pet relax prior to the start of general anesthesia we will administer a pre anesthetic sedation injection. This is a combination of several drugs that work together to do more than help relax your pet. A sedative drug is used to calm your pet for anesthetic preparations including placing an IV Catheter. Included in this combination is a drug that helps maintain your pet's heart-rate throughout general anesthesia. There is also a small pain medication that begins to work while your pet is under general anesthesia and helps to reduce pain as your pet recovers from general anesthesia.
IV Catheter
An intravenous or IV catheter is an important delivery system for your pet's anesthetic drugs. Once your pet has had a chance to fully relax with our pre anesthetic sedation injection our trained CVTs will place an IV catheter into a vein in your pet's front or back leg. There will be a small shaved patch of hair where the IV catheter is placed, this is to protect the sterility of the IV catheter. Your pet will be given IV anesthetic drugs. The IV catheter ensures that the full amount of IV anesthetic drugs are given directly into the vein. If an emergency were to arise, precious time is saved by already having an IV catheter in place. With your pet's IV catheter secure we are also able to easily administer IV fluids throughout your pet's dental procedure.
IV Fluids
There are important benefits of having IV fluids administered throughout your pet's dental procedure. A balanced Sodium chloride or Lactated Ringers (electrolyte rich fluid) solution can help keep your pet fully hydrated during and after general anesthesia. Your pet's recovery time from anesthesia is quickened by having IV fluids administered. Also, IV fluids are very helpful in maintaining your pet's blood pressure.
Intubation for Gas Anesthetic / Oxygen Delivery
To deliver gas anesthetic and oxygen to your pet's lungs safer we insert a breathing tube into your pet's trachea. A cuff around the end of the tube is inflated creating a tightly sealed delivery system. The cuff allows your pet's breathing tube to remain in place delivering pure oxygen along with anesthetic gas. We use gas anesthetic to maintain the safest depth of general anesthesia for your pet's dental procedure. With gas anesthetic our trained CVTs can monitor you pet's depth of general anesthesia and easily reduce or increase the amounts of gas anesthetic needed.
Antibiotic Injection
The build up of plaque and tartar contains a lot of bacteria. The teeth and gums can become infected by this collection of bacteria. When your pet's teeth are cleaned infected gums can bleed. The bacteria in your pet's mouth take this opportunity to enter into the blood stream and can attack other organs of the body. To help with the release of all the bacteria in your pet's mouth and to prevent infections to your pet's body organs we give a simple antibiotic injection under the skin while your pet is under general anesthesia.
Anesthetic Monitoring
Your pet's safety while under general anesthesia is very important to us. Each day we assign a trained CVT that is dedicated to monitoring your pet throughout his dental procedure. All of our CVTs are trained to monitor your pet hands on. Even before the pre anesthetic sedation our CVTs are checking your pet's heart-rate, breathing, color and other various indicators of well being. Our CVTs continue to monitor your pet's vitals throughout general anesthesia and recovery. Along with our CVTs hands on monitoring we have invested in top of the line monitoring equipment. This equipment provides our trained CVTs with constant monitoring of your pet's heart-rate, blood oxygenation, body temperature, respiratory rate, and blood pressure.
Temperature Regulation
Normally, while your pet is sleeping or napping at home his body drops his temperature a little bit to make his rest more comfortable. The same is true while your pet is under general anesthesia. To keep your pet's body temperature closer to normal awake levels we have a personal warming system called a "Bair Hugger". This small, portable machine helps to warm the air and blankets around your pet. Your pet's normal body temperature helps to make recovery from general anesthesia much faster and safer.
Anesthetic Recovery Monitoring
We have dedicated recovery kennels that are placed in our treatment area, away from the often noisy kennel rooms. Your pet has an opportunity to rest peacefully while our staff keep a constant eye on your recovering pet. Our trained CVTs check your pet's vitals while your pet is recovering.
Hospitalization
Once your pet is fully awake we offer a small potty break or litter box. To make sure your pet has a good meal, we offer a high calorie pet food made especially for patients just waking up from general anesthesia. Often times your pet is ready to go home the day of the dental procedure. Occasionally your pet may be too groggy from general anesthesia causing our Doctor's to feel it would be safer for you pet to stay overnight with us. This would be included with no extra cost to you.
Dental Prophylaxis
This is the main focus of the dental procedure. We have a dedicated dental suite built just for dental prophylaxis. Your pet will receive a complete oral exam, hand scaling of the teeth, ultrasonic scaling of the teeth, polishing of the teeth, and full dental charting.
Complete oral exam – The mouth and it's structures (teeth, gums, lips, tongue) are much easier to examine when your pet is fully relaxed under general anesthesia. Our Doctor's take this opportunity to completely exam your pet's mouth. Noting any chipped or missing teeth, abnormal teeth, gum disease, oral tumors, ect.
Hand Scaling – Our trained CVTs use specially designed dental tools to chip off or scrape dental plaque and tartar from your pet's teeth. This is done both above and below the gum line as dental plaque and tartar can form under your pet's gums causing gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Ultrasonic Scaling – We have an ultrasonic scaler that uses high frequency ultrasonic waves along with water to move a scaling tool to help further remove the build up of dental plaque and tartar.
Polishing – With both hand scaling and ultrasonic scaling it is possible to create small divots into the softer enamel of your pet's teeth. Your pet can also create small scratches on the surface of the tooth by chewing hard substances such as rocks or wood. Using a dental polisher we smooth out your pet's teeth helping to reduce the amount of crevasses in which bacteria often hide.
Dental Charting – During your pet's dental procedure we are constantly making notes about the status of your pet's mouth and teeth. We will chart any findings on an easy to read dental chart that you can take home and also becomes part of your pet's permanent health record.
Oravet® Sealant
After your pet's teeth are clean, we apply the first professional applications of a tooth sealent product called Oravet ®. Oravet® is a tooth sealant designed to be used with at home care as a way to prolong your pet's dental cleaning. You, at home, can continue the use of this sealant along with dental chews, gels, and tooth brushing. This is an easy weekly application that takes less then 60 seconds to apply.
