Is my dog too old for dental cleaning?

Age is not a disease. If a dog's 12 or if a dog's 20, I want to treat them in a way that's going to maintain their quality of life for as long as possible. When we're dealing with an older patient that may have some other health conditions, we need to weigh what sort of quality of life the impact the dental disease is having, which in many dogs can be pretty significant if they have painful or loose teeth. It can make it hard for them to eat and just be very uncomfortable. As long as we don't have any significant health condition that could make anesthesia essentially deadly, I think it's at least worth considering looking at the procedure and looking at how this might benefit the patient.

So old is not the question—what we're looking for is healthy. Is your pet too old? Well, we've done dentals on 18-year-old dogs and 20-year-old cats before, so age is not the issue. It is a matter of what we're dealing with and how healthy the pet is. We've routinely worked on dental disease in senior dogs because they're healthy enough, and the dental disease is decreasing their quality of life. And if we can give them a better quality of life, we should.

Age is not a disease, but diseases can come with age. For older dogs, it's essential to ensure their heart, kidney, and liver functions are in good shape before dental cleaning. Veterinarians will run an ECG and check laboratory work (usually within three months) to ensure the safety of the procedure. If the dog's organs are functioning properly, age should not be a problem for dental cleanings.

No, age is not a limiting factor for dental cleanings in dogs. In fact, older dogs often need dental care the most. Veterinarians take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of older pets during anesthesia, and treating dental issues in older dogs can prevent prolonged pain and infection. If you have concerns about your pet's age and dental care, consult with your veterinarian to discuss your pet's specific needs and health status.