Best Place in the City!! Book your appointment Now!

Click the link to view further details...

Let's explore what heartworm disease is, () how it's transmitted, its symptoms, prognosis, and, most importantly, prevention and treatment., As a veterinarian, I've witnessed firsthand the impact of heartworm disease on our canine friends and the distress it causes to pet owners. This blog aims to shed light on heartworm disease, from its transmission to prevention and treatment options, empowering you with the knowledge to protect your pets.

Discovering Heartworm Disease in Dogs New

While every size and breed of dog has its own unique charm, today, we are highlighting five large breeds that we absolutely adore for family households. Each of these breeds brings something special to the table, making them ideal family companions for various reasons. 

5 Great Large Dog Breeds for Families

A healthy mouth plays a vital role in the well-being of both humans and animals. In veterinary medicine, ensuring proper dental care for your dog or cat will help maintain their health, prevent dental related diseases, and promote a long and happy life. One of the most important aspects of professional teeth cleanings and treatments for dogs and cats is the appropriate use of anesthesia. In this blog, we’ll walk you through why veterinary anesthesia is used in dental procedures for dogs and cats, and how it can help ensure your pet gets thorough, effective, and safe treatments.

The Crucial Role of Anesthesia in Veterinary Dental Care

The Cost of Pet Ownership Understanding How to Budget for a Dog or Cat's Lifetime Expenses

A Traveling Pet Owner’s Guide to Dog Road Trip Essentials

Thu Aug 28 2025 13:04:10 GMT-0400 (Eastern Daylight Time)

Boca Park Animal Hospital

Firehouse Group

Bonita Veterinary Care Hospital

about-us-page

about-video-section

our-history-section

our-teams-section

why-us-section

app-download-page

download-app-section

blogs-page

blogs-section

book-appointment-page

book-appointment-section

career-page

careers-section

landing-page

contact-us-section

cta-bar

emergency-branches

faq-section

footer-section

hero-section

more-clinics-section

otto-widget-section

our-services-section

testimonials-section

vetstoria-widget-section

We are dedicated to providing the highest level of care along with friendly, compassionate service.

news-page

our-history-page

payment-info-page

services-page

service-page-section

team-page

teams-page-section

video-page

google

facebook

pixel_facebook

pixel_google

Header Cookie Consent - 671f33c5d8e9f7c6b5f082c9

cookie_settings_1750953359003

<button id="ot-sdk-btn" class="ot-sdk-show-settings">Cookie Settings</button>

cookie_list_1750953359258

cookie_67b7ab837856081e2e9b709a

cookie_67b68351f6a9a7ec5f1fadbe

cookie_67b5f93cf6a9a7ec5f1f5f1f

cookie_

cookie_67a374df560ba0bd8883dfae

cookie_67a618f8737adb2dbeb347b9

</script>
<script src="https://cdn.cookielaw.org/scripttemplates/otSDKStub.js"  type="text/javascript" charset="UTF-8" data-domain-script="0199e395-baa9-76dd-bd64-a76f44ff1994" ></script>
<script type="text/javascript">
function OptanonWrapper() { }
</script>

<h2 dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.2"><strong>Is Anesthesia Really Necessary for My Pet’s Dental Care?</strong></h2><p dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.6em">When the subject of anesthesia is brought up when clients are being briefed on veterinary dental procedures, it’s not uncommon for them to be unsure and ask, “Is anesthesia really necessary for this?”<br><br>The use of anesthesia is most commonly associated with major procedures or <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.bocaparkanimalhospital.com/services/dogs/canine-surgery">surgeries</a>, and some pet parents are surprised to learn that it’s also widely used in veterinary dentistry for everything from routine cleanings and <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.geniusvets.com/pet-care/learn/dogs/dog-dentistry">comprehensive oral exams</a> to tooth extractions and more. The use of anesthesia in veterinary dental procedures is a key factor in patient safety and comfort. In fact, veterinary dentistry guidelines from numerous organizations, like the American Animal Hospital Association, discourage performing any procedure that involves scaling a pet’s teeth with dental instruments while they are fully awake due to <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" class="link" href="https://www.aaha.org/resources/anesthesia-and-dental-cleaning">safety, efficacy, and ethical concerns</a>.<br><br>While it may be tempting to opt for an anesthesia-free dental care option, like those offered by some groomers or pet stores, dental procedures done without anesthesia can not only be less effective, but also <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" class="link" href="https://afd.avdc.org/risks-of-anesthesia-free-pet-dental-cleanings/">more stressful and risky for your pet</a>.&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.2"><strong>Anesthesia and the Standard of Care for Veterinary Dentistry</strong></h2><p dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.6em">Professional veterinary and dental organizations agree that the benefits of utilizing anesthesia for veterinary dental procedures far outweigh any risks associated with anesthesia use. Due to its effectiveness and, most importantly, safety, they have deemed anesthesia use part of veterinary dental standards of care.<br><br>Anesthesia ensures that pets remain still and comfortable during procedures, allowing veterinarians to perform thorough examinations and treatments without causing stress or pain to the animal. By following stringent protocols and meeting acceptable standards of care, veterinarians prioritize the well-being of pets, ensuring they receive the highest quality of dental care in a safe and controlled environment. Now that we’ve established why veterinarians use anesthesia the way we do for dental care, let’s dive into the biggest aspect of dental anesthesia: patient safety.</p><p dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.6em"></p><h3 dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.2"><strong>The "Root" of the Issue: Patient Safety and Comfort</strong></h3><p dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.6em">Professional teeth cleanings and veterinary dental treatments can include scaling, polishing, and extractions. Anesthesia eliminates the opportunity for stress and anxiety that would occur if the patient remained awake. Because dental tartar is cemented on the teeth, a scaling device is used to remove it. This requires the patient to remain immobile during the procedure. A slight movement by the patient can cause damage to the gum tissue, resulting in pain, further dental complications, or even harm to those treating the pet.<br><br>The majority of dental disease is located below the gumline, making precision and accuracy essential. Because such delicate movements are required to scale and then probe each individual tooth, it's important for the pet to remain completely still – which can be an unrealistic ask for even the most obedient or well trained pets. In human dental care, we understand and cooperate with these procedures, but we can’t expect the same from our pets. It would not be safe or ethical to complete these tasks on a dog or cat unless the patient has the benefits of anesthesia.&nbsp;</p><p dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.6em">Inhalation anesthesia, using a cuffed endotracheal tube, provides many advantages to patient safety. Not only does it provide immobilization of the patient for safe and effective cleaning, treatments, and pain management, but the cuffed endotracheal tube protects your pet's airway. If they are awake, there is concern about inhaling water (aspiration), which can lead to complications for your pet beyond their dental issues, as this fluid is filled with bacteria and can result in severe lung infections.</p><h2 dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.38"><strong>How Anesthesia for Pet Dental Care Works &amp; What to Expect</strong></h2><p dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.6em">Though putting your pet under anesthesia can feel dangerous or make you feel uneasy, rest assured that we do everything in our ability to make it as safe as possible. Before every surgery in our clinics, we require <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" class="link" href="https://bocaparkanimalhospital.com/services/dogs/laboratory-blood-tests">pre-anesthetic or pre-surgical blood work</a>. This allows our doctors to have an inside look at your pet's internal body function to make sure they have the ability to process the anesthetic medications and heal.&nbsp;</p><p dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.6em">On the day of the procedure, every patient receives an additional pre-surgical exam. An IV (intravenous) catheter is then placed in every patient prior to the start of their surgery or procedure. Having IV access is key to maintaining hydration with fluids as well as administering any medications they may need before, during, or after the procedure. A Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) is monitoring them the entire time. The RVT monitors vitals including oxygen, blood pressure, and electrocardiogram (ECG), among others and adjusts the amount of inhalant anesthesia based on these findings. Temperature is also evaluated throughout the duration of the procedure, and warming devices are used when appropriate to ensure your pet’s comfort.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><h2 dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.2"><strong>Safety in Veterinary Dentistry Is Our Top Priority</strong></h2><p dir="auto" style="text-align: left; line-height: 1.6em">Your pet's well-being is our top priority, and we are proud of the thoroughness and tailoring of our surgical and anesthetic protocol for your pet. While there is always a risk with anesthesia, we do everything in our ability to reduce this risk while providing safe professional teeth cleaning procedures.</p>

unitedveterinarycare

Consult Online

Online Store

Pet Portal

Forms

Download App

Compassionate and Quality Care for your Pet

Served Over 10,000 Fur Babies and Their Happy Families

Preventative care is the best way to give your pet a lifetime of health and happiness. We want every animal to feel as comfortable as possible at our office, and routine visits give us the opportunity to really get to know your pet, and your family, too. It is our goal to provide your companion with the very best care through every stage of his or her life. Tester Lokesh  dfvdvfsddsf

Wellness Services

Enter the short description for the Service ()

Cat Vaccination

Just like most humans, almost every pet will undergo a surgical procedure at some point in his or her life. Fortunately, our experienced doctors and technicians are trained to perform many types of elective and non-elective surgeries.



Surgical Services

Daycare

Dog Cardiology, Heart Disease, Failure, Murmurs and Treatment

Dog Cardiology

Cat Dental Care, Cleaning, Brushing, Surgery and More - Veterinary Advice

Cat Dental Care

Puppy Care - Training, Food, Vaccinations and More - Veterinary Advice

Puppy Care

Welcoming a new kitten into your family and home can be both an exciting and stressful experience. As a new kitten owner, there is plenty to navigate — from proper nutrition and adequate exercise to learning their personality and correcting destructive behaviors. Since this stage comes with many questions, you might have turned to the internet for insight. At Boca Park Animal Hospital, we work extremely hard to bring you accurate information you can trust. That’s why we’ve taken the FAQs about kitten care and answered them as thoroughly and accurately as possible to ensure you have the facts.

Kitten Care

As in human medical care, diagnostic imaging is a common and effective way to help diagnose certain conditions in cats, from broken bones to cancerous tumors. Whether a veterinarian uses an x-ray, ultrasound, MRI, or a CT Scan, each diagnostic imaging tool helps them see a clear picture of what’s going on inside your cat’s body.

Sheet title

The Crucial Role of Anesthesia in Veterinary Dental Care

Recent Blogs

Related Blogs

Discovering Heartworm Disease in Dogs

Does My Cat Need a Friend

A Traveling Pet Owner’s Guide to Dog Road Trip Essentials

faq