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Hello everyone! My name is "Targé" and
I am an eleven year old Vizsla. Thanks for joining me today as I have my
teeth cleaned. I've come to DVC
for my annual dental cleaning. I'm a little nervous but both my owner and I
know I am in good hands today.
Before I go back to visit the veterinarian and nurses, I have to get
weighed. I've been working really hard this winter to keep in shape. I hope
my doctor notices. I'm 34.4
pounds... perfect! |
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After I am weighed, I head back to the
treatment area to visit the veterinarian and nurses. This is me about
to have a blood sample taken for my pre-anesthetic blood profile.
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is very important at any age and especially at
mine. At eleven years old I am considered a senior dog and though I appear
healthy on the outside, there could be problems lurking internally.
The results of my blood profile will let the veterinarian
know if there is anything wrong with my liver, kidneys, and other important
systems. I might look a little frightened but I'm not! I'm a trooper. |
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This is what my pre-anesthetic blood
profile looks like when it's finished. I takes just a few minutes for it to
be completed. How cool is that?
My results were perfect which isn't bad for an old dog like me. |
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After my bloodwork is completed, it's
time for my dental cleaning. I'm given and injection prior to my anesthesia
that makes me feel relaxed. This way I'm not nervous when it's time for
anesthesia. When it's time for my
anesthesia, Nurse Dawn gives me a big hug. It's Nurse Jill who administers
the injectable anesthesia through the vein in my front leg. Before I know it
I become very sleepy. |
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Once the anesthesia is administered I
have an endotracheal
tube placed into my trachea (that's my windpipe). The tube will administer
Isoflurane gas anesthesia until my dental cleaning is finished.
In this photo the nurse is placing eye
lubricant in my eyes to protect them until I wake up. Thank you! |
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Can you see the green part in my
mouth in the picture above? That's part of the machine that is monitoring my
breath while I am under anesthesia. The top number on the display means that
I am breathing 21 times each minute (that's good).
The bottom number is 149 and is how
many times my heart is beating each minute. That part of the machine is
attached to my rear foot which is measuring my pulse.
This machine will keep the surgical
staff informed on how well I'm doing during the procedure. |
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Well, here's the view of the inside of
my mouth. I'm not proud of all the tartar, but that's why I'm here. Both my
owner and I want me to be healthy and live a long life. Many people don't
realize that dental disease can lead to other issues in my body, like heart
and kidney problems.
I have an Advanced Stage of Periodontal
Disease, which means I will be getting a cleaning about every six months to a
year. I will also need a lot of home dental care.
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The tartar is removed with
both hand instruments and an ultrasonic scaler.
Once my teeth are tartar free, it's time for a polishing. It's just like
when humans have their teeth cleaned and it tastes about the same. Unlike
with humans, my mouth is rinsed for me so I don't have to wake up with
gritty paste in my mouth. The rinse also helps to eliminate any bacteria
released into my mouth during the cleaning process.
Thanks gals! |
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As you see here, my teeth
are tartar free once again. There's some bleeding from my gums due to the
periodontal disease, but it will stop soon. If I
have my teeth cleaned on schedule, it will help to slow the process of the
disease.
Things are going to taste better now! |
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After my teeth are cleaned
and I'm completely off any anesthesia, it's time for me to recover and wake
up. I have a dog condo with a heated blanket under me and dim lighting so
that I stay warm and relaxed until it's time to go home.
Right now I'm dreaming about the Greenie treats that my
owner will pick up this afternoon. They taste great and are great for my
teeth. |
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I like this place because
I always go home with some kind of goodie. Who doesn't like that?
This is my dental goodie bag that I am taking home with
me today. I receive a sample bag of the Purina DH (dental diet), a CET
dental chew, and informative literature for my owner to read. |
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A few hours after my cleaning, I am awake
and ready to go home. My owner is here to pick me up and look how happy I
am! I'm still a bit groggy and it takes a little
time for all my medications to wear off. I'm planning on going home to nap
and then have a light dinner. By this time tomorrow, I will be chasing my
duck toy in the backyard.
I hope everyone enjoyed sharing my visit with me, I
know I did. Dental care is a very important part of pet ownership and isn't
something to be ignored. Keeping my mouth healthy means a longer, healthier
life with my owner. |
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