Dental Conditions in Old Dogs

ROTTEN TEETH

1. Stink – To you, and even more so, to your dog.
2. Taste Bad – Imagine eating food with those teeth
3. Create a mist of germs for the lungs, with every inward breath
4. They hurt. Can you look at that and think it’s painless?
5. Last but not least the germs gain access to the blood stream. Ewwww.

If your dog’s teeth are rotting out, it’s miserable. Compare that to the risk of anesthesia. I mean, it’s NOT A SNAP DECISION but it’s an important one.

If I had a dog with a rotting mouth, FOR ME, it’s a no-brainer I’d give my dog a break, from that honestly, regardless of risk

Don’t be shocked, but I’d (personally) rather take my chances on Bailey being among the 0.005% that dies from the process – as opposed to being among the many living with a decaying mouth.

Dr Erik Johnson is a Marietta, Georgia Veterinarian with a practice in small animal medicine. He graduated from University of Georgia with his Doctorate in 1991. Dr Johnson is the author of several texts on Koi and Pond Fish Health and Disease as well as numerous articles on dog and cat health topics.