Dental Procedures for Pets

Your veterinarian has recommended an advanced dental or oral surgery procedure for your pet.
 
Prior to the scheduled procedure your pet will need to have labwork performed in order to check organ function (liver, kidneys, etc) and look at red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. This will help the anesthesia team determine the best anesthetic protocol for your pet, and help detect any abnormalities prior to anesthesia.

When can I feed my pet before a procedure?

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Please do not feed your pet breakfast on the scheduled surgery day. You can feed dinner the night before, but it is important that the stomach is empty for general anesthesia. Please allow your pet to continue to have access to fresh water until your scheduled appointment/drop off time. Please ask your veterinarian for recommendations if your pet is very young or takes regular medication (ie insulin for diabetic patients).
 
If your pet is easily stressed out by coming to the clinic, please talk to your veterinarian or Dr. Berning about possible medication you can administer prior to the scheduled surgery.

What to expect on the day of the dental procedure:

Plan to bring your pet to your primary care veterinary clinic the morning of the scheduled procedure. You should plan to leave your pet with us for the day, unless otherwise arranged. Please be sure to provide contact information where you can be reached that day. You will be asked to sign a consent form prior to anesthesia acknowledging that, while we do everything possible to minimize and reduce risks, there is an inherent risk associated with any anesthetic event.
 
Bring any medications your pet is currently getting. If your pet has food allergies or other dietary restrictions, please bring a small amount of food with you – especially if your pet is being hospitalized overnight.
 
Upon arrival, your pet may be given a cocktail of medications to help reduce pain and anxiety prior to surgery. Then, he will be placed under general anesthesia, and the veterinarians and technicians will monitor them closely throughout the duration of anesthesia. Dental x-rays will be taken of the entire mouth to determine the exact plan for your pet. Dr. Berning will perform the dental procedure(s) necessary, and once your pet is recovered from anesthesia you will receive a phone call update. Please know that even though your pet may arrive to the clinic early in the morning it is possible that he will not be ready to go home until later in the day. We will call you during the procedure to discuss any unexpected dental findings, and contact you immediately if there are any problems.
 
Most patients will go home the same day. If your pet is having a major surgical procedure it is possible your veterinarian may want to keep him overnight or have him transferred to a local emergency clinic for overnight monitoring.