Hello to everyone! I am actually revisiting a topic from last year....Now that the forum is a bit more established and has more posters, I thought I'd check it out.

My 5 year old Corgi, Eli, has pulmonary stenosis, diagnosed as a puppy. (Essentially, the pulmonary valve doesn't open all the way, and the heart has to work harder to move blood around).  He has had 2 echocardiograms, 2 years apart, that were essentially the same. He could stand a dental cleaning. No vet will touch him without another ECHO, which I don't want. He gets lots of dental chews and treats, along with Proden Plaque off. His teeth look pretty good. (He won't let me brush them).

Does anyone have experience with "no anesthesia dental work" ?

What does Dr. Jean think?

We are very fortuate in this area (Denver) to have anesthesia-free dental cleanings available. I've watched it being done, and I was impressed with the quality of the work. It's a great option, for the right pets. Not all dogs (and fewer cats!) are candidates--they have to be calm enough to tolerate the handling, and they can't need any extractions or have serious dental disease, since cleaning alone won't fix it. Eli sounds like the perfect dog for this type of treatment (I love Corgis!), and it's great that you're looking ahead and taking action to prevent problems down the road!

BTW, February is Pet Dental Health month, so you might even be able to find a good deal! :)

The problem is, I can't find a vet that practices anesthesia free dentals in my area. Since E has had 2 ECHO's, 2 years apart, that were essentially unchanged, is it mandatory that he have another ECHO? I know if he were a human, he would not be cleared for anesthesia. However, there has to be some sort of comprimise. Not only can I not afford the test, but, what is to be gained by it's results? My husband and I decided a long time ago that we would not persue any intervention other than meds. We were offered a valvoplasty to open the valve. We could not afford it, and the results were not garanteed. E is happy and healthy, and not suffering any ill effects from his condition. He gets a variety of chews to help with his teeth..Texas Toothpicks, Twistex, dried chicken feet, munchie sticks, Zukes Z ridges, Proden Plaque Off. What else can I do if I can't get his teeth properly cleaned?

Well, the vet who will do the anesthesia has the right to require whatever tests in whatever time frame he/she feels comfortable with; but you may want to call around and see if you can find someone else with a little more courage...iif not maybe offer to sign a waiver of liability acknowledging the risk...next idea, if Eli was seen by a cardiologist, see if the cardiologist will recommend the anesthetic protocol--usually that lifts some of the fear of malpractice lawsuits,,,and the last thing I can think of right now is to contact one of the places that teaches the anesthesia-free technique and see if they have any grads in your area. These are usually NOT veterinarians. Tomorrow I'll see if I can reach the gal who does it in my area and see if maybe she has some other ideas...

Thanks so much. I appreciste the help!

Hi Susie, just wanted to report back on this...I contacted the folks around here (Denver/Boulder) who do the anesthesia-free dentals, and there isn't really much organization to it. There was one person who taught it in California, but she was put out of business by the California Veterinary Medical Association. Most states don't have anyone that does it, but there is a new school in Denver offering an "official" 5-day hands-on training course to vet techs in the procedure--http://www.wellanimalinstitute.com/. Maybe you could drum up some interest in your area!!

Thanks for your help. I plan on bringing it up at Eli's next visit.

Hey Susie,

You might want to try the Petzlife Dental Spray.  The main ingredient is grapefruit seed extract, and you simply spray it into your dog's mouth a couple times a day to treat heavy plaque.  This should be done away from food.  I try to do it right before bedtime.  When used consistently, it removes plaque.   My dogs don't mind at all.  I hold the spray nozzle very close to their back molars after pulling their lips back, give a quick spray, and that's it.  I just started using it a couple weeks ago, and I swear Lily's teeth are already whiter.  

A friend of mine used it when her cat's gums were inflamed, and it resolved the issue within days.  And a groomer friend of mine recommends it highly.  Also available in gel form.  You can read up on it at Only Natural Pet.  

Grapefruit seed extract is a powerful antibiotic and antioxidant, so it should be especially great for gum health! :) For cats, Feline Greenies also seem to do a good job of removing tartar, though our local veterinary dentist isn't quite as keen on the dog variety.

Another thing to add to tonight's shopping list...