Not always, but there may be certain situations like we mentioned with the certifications of PennHip or OFA, those are required to have anesthesia. Also, if we need to have the pet calmer or more cooperative for the positions they need to be in, some of those positions aren't necessarily natural to them. It's often on a cold table that they may not feel comfortable with. But yes and no is the answer.

Yes, is the answer; both. Most of the time, the images and the diagnostic imaging that we do here, my colleagues and me will interpret and diagnose based on those images. But we do have the option of sending those images to a veterinary radiologist and getting their opinion or diagnosis if we feel that that's necessary.

We might ask you to fast your pet. That way, if we are x-raying or doing an ultrasound, we don't have a lot of food in the stomach that might obscure an image. Or we may need them fasted if we're going to give them any type of mild sedative or general anesthesia.

There are many that will advertise that they will brush your dog's teeth, but they're not going to do exactly the same as a good old fashion toothbrushing or finger brushing. A lot of them will say that they will, but not quite as good as kind of the Veterinary Oral Health Council certified products.

Dogs can get cavities. It's a rarer type of dental disease, but they can still get cavities just like humans can.