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Pomeranian 6 years 6 months old dental cleaning. I'm worried about anesthesia.

My 6 year 6 month Pomeranian went in for his yearly shots. We finally got a good look in his mouth and found that he has 3 loose teeth. One tooth fell out 2 weeks after his yearly visit so back to the vet on Thursday was told no sign of abscess or infection. I gave him bones used enzymatic toothpaste when HE would allow me yet it didn't work out and I feel terribly about this. He was supposed to go in for a dental last year but I put it off b/c my friends said I was insane to put a dog under anesthesia for a cleaning and I was scared to put him under and didn't know what I know now. Moderate build up on some teeth and he needs a dental. I'm having a consultation w/the vet on Monday and hopefully will have him done next week. He banged his snout a few weeks ago while chasing a cat would that cause the teeth to become loose? Now that's the background here's the issue. I'M DEATHLY AFRAID of him going under the anesthesia. I know tooth loss and decay causes worse problems but I've been crying myself sick and have been ultra nervous about this. I thought I was doing the right thing by giving him bones and brushing with the enzymatic toothpaste but I just couldn't reach all the areas.
I'm afraid he will die at the vets. It's terrible I've lost sleep and can barely eat. I just feel my best friend is going to be lost. Can you please tell me any precautions I can ask the vet to do? I heard certain small breeds don't do well under injection anesthesia and should be given as gas, but on the website it says they pre-medicate with an injection, then IV medication to lose consciousness then gas to keep them under. I heard bad stories about the injections and I'm fearful. This is an animal hospital that is AAHA certified. This isn't a vet dentistry office. Do I need the specialist or am I OK at this vet(this vet also performed my dogs neutering using Isoflurane anesthesia. Does isoflurane involve the injections too or is it just gas? Could his heart and kidneys be damaged?
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Avatar universal
Called and found out he did indeed get the subgingival. That's what I figured.

I inquired about the xrays and was told they don't have xray machines for dental xrays but they have digital regular xrays, but should be getting the dental xray machine in about a year. You were right as I expected. Thanks for that.

I don't know if I mentioned this before but my dogs globulin was a slightly elevated. I was told it's probably because of the inflammation and dental disease. I was thinking of getting him retested in about 8 weeks does that sound good?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I just read that there are two types of cleanings. One to make them look 'pretty' and a subgingival. I hope he got the subgingival one.
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931614 tn?1283482670
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
not more teeth, but less teeth that have infection remain.
ie without xrays he likely has painful infections that remain.  I hope to save teeth, but usually they need to be lost by the time it's severe - trying to save teeth keeps infection in the mouth.
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Thanks so much. Do you feel that without xrays he was subjected to having more teeth pulled? I hope non could have been saved etc.
Thanks so much again for your expert opinion
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931614 tn?1283482670
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Give it 2-8 wks for the gums that have had changes to heal, then put him under again just for xrays, as it will likely be for xrays and further treatment, but best medicine with the healthiest the mouth can be - ie after healing before any problem that was missed has worsened....
Helpful - 1
Avatar universal
Thanks for your responses they are very informative. Do you think waiting until the next dental would be to long to go without xrays? I'll obviously take him to the specialist at this point for them. I wanted xrays to begin with in order to know everything going on and it's frustrating to know all of this.

Do you think it's a bad idea to put him under again just for x-rays? If not how long do you feel I should wait?
Thank You
Helpful - 0

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