If you want your dog’s gums and teeth to stay healthy, you should consider getting their teeth cleaned professionally. Just like people, dogs can have tartar buildup, which can lead to tooth decay. Brushing your dog’s teeth regularly will improve their dental health as long as they undergo professional teeth cleanings occasionally, too.

A veterinarian performs professional teeth cleaning. Your dog will undergo anesthesia for safety and comfort, which allows the vet to examine their teeth thoroughly. Unfortunately, the equipment and treatment can cost quite a bit of money, especially if your dog requires more dental work than just cleaning. We’ve included all the costs below so that you can budget correctly without any guesswork.

The Importance of Canine Teeth Cleaning

A scary reality is that gum disease, otherwise known as periodontal disease, is a dental problem that around 90% of dogs will experience in their lifetime, usually showing signs from the age of 2. This disease causes havoc to your dog’s mouth but often isn’t picked up on in the early stages because the bacteria first damage the supporting structures below your dog’s gums. Unfortunately, the disease can only be reversed in its earliest stage before severe damage has occurred.

If you don’t brush your dog’s teeth, plaque will turn to tartar. A thick buildup of plaque causes inflammation in the gums, which is how periodontal disease begins. If nothing is done to prevent it, more damage will develop over time.

Tooth decay sounds bad and painful enough, but if those suffering gums aren’t treated, the situation can get much worse and potentially become fatal. Untreated gum disease can lead to jaw fractures, oronasal fistulas, tooth abscesses, oral cancers, eye issues, and risk of organ damage.

Professional teeth cleaning is vital for stage 2 of periodontal disease in dogs. However, preventative teeth cleanings, as well as daily teeth brushing, are the best way to prevent periodontal disease from occurring.

Gum Disease Signs to Look Out For

If you have only recently learned about periodontal disease and haven’t been very strict with brushing your dog’s teeth, you should consider getting their teeth cleaned professionally. Even though you might not be able to see the signs, gum disease can start from a young age, and your dog might be suffering quietly.

If you’ve noticed that your dog has bad breath, bleeding gums, discolored teeth, is eating slower than usual, isn’t eating, or is struggling to eat, you should take them to your vet for a dental health checkup. Your vet may advise that your dog’s teeth be cleaned, or they may recommend a tooth extraction.

How Much Does Dog Teeth Cleaning Cost?

Several factors can affect the cost of professional dog teeth cleaning. One of them is the location of the vet practice in the UK. Prices differ greatly from one area to another. Depending on your location, the cost of cleaning can be between £100 and £500. However, the average cost is £233.

Other factors are the size and weight of your dog. The bigger your dog, the higher your cost will be because they’ll require more anesthesia to keep them asleep during the cleaning.

The age of your dog may also affect the cost, as older dogs will need blood work taken to determine the health of their kidneys and livers to ensure they’re healthy enough to undergo anesthesia.

Of course, if your dog has periodontal disease, the vet may have to do more extensive work, which will take longer and cost more. If your vet needs an X-ray of your dog’s teeth or needs to extract a tooth, the cost will increase.

Additional Costs to Anticipate

Sometimes, your dog’s dental health is worse than you expected, and they may require additional treatment during their teeth cleaning procedure.

As we mentioned earlier, if you have a senior dog, your vet probably won’t want to take any risks and will order blood tests to determine whether your dog is healthy enough to undergo general anesthesia to have their teeth professionally cleaned. Blood tests will be an additional cost that you may have to factor in.

The vet may use X-rays to see underneath your dog’s gums to assess them properly and determine the level of treatment they require. Some vets include the x-rays in their price, and others don’t. Ask your vet for a quote and a breakdown of all the costs ahead of time so that you can budget accordingly.

Advanced gum disease often leads to teeth extractions. Each tooth that needs to be extracted will incur an additional cost because it takes extra time to remove it. If your dog’s tooth requires a root canal, the procedure can add another £1,000. What would usually take around 45 minutes for a professional teeth cleaning procedure can end up being much longer when extractions and root canals are required.

How Frequently Should I Get My Dog’s Teeth Cleaned?

Your dog’s breed, the extent of their periodontal disease, and how often you brush their teeth will determine how frequently you need to take them to have their teeth cleaned professionally by a vet.

Small breeds often have twisted, overlapping, or displaced teeth because there isn’t enough space for all their teeth in their tiny jaws. The tighter the teeth are next to each other, the greater the plaque buildup will be, which is why smaller breeds commonly experience periodontal disease and require more frequent teeth cleanings than larger breeds.

While large breeds can get away with only having their teeth cleaned professionally once a year, smaller breeds should get it done every 6 months. However, your vet will be able to advise you on how frequently your dog should have their teeth cleaned.

You’ll need to get their teeth cleaned more frequently if you aren’t able to brush your dog’s teeth often. Their age and diet are also factors that need to be considered. If your dog’s gums are bleeding or if they’re struggling to eat, you should take them in to be seen by the vet earlier than their next scheduled appointment.

Does Pet Insurance Cover Dog Teeth Cleaning?

Unless your dog has periodontal disease, your pet insurance isn’t likely to pay for teeth cleanings since they fall under preventative care. The only time a cleaning may be covered is if it is required as a form of treatment. If you want pet insurance to cover your dog’s routine teeth cleanings, you could consider adding a wellness plan. However, this will be an added expense.

What to Do for Your Dog’s Teeth in Between Cleanings

To maintain your dog’s dental health, don’t only rely on their frequent professional teeth cleanings. There are ways to keep their gums and teeth healthy between cleanings so they won’t need tooth extractions and additional treatment.

First, it is essential to brush your dog’s teeth every day. Unfortunately, older dogs may not cooperate well and become stressed if you begin brushing their teeth because they’re unfamiliar with the task. Start brushing your puppy’s teeth from 6 months of age so that they can become accustomed to it. Make sure to use toothpaste that is pet-safe, as human toothpaste has ingredients that are toxic to dogs.

If your dog doesn’t let you brush their teeth, you could use pet tooth wipes, mouth sprays, and water additives instead. Although these alternatives may not be as effective as brushing your dog’s teeth, they’re more effective than doing nothing.

In addition to brushing your dog’s teeth, you can purchase dental toys that help remove plaque when they chew them. You could also consider changing their diet and transitioning them to specialized dog food to improve their dental health. You could also swap out some of their regular treats for dental chews so that they can enjoy a treat while benefitting from its cleaning effects.

Final Thoughts

Gum disease is common in dogs. It’s necessary for you to brush your dog’s teeth every day and take them for routine teeth cleanings to prevent the disease from developing in their gums. Dog teeth cleanings can be expensive because vets must use anesthesia to examine and work on your dog’s teeth, and additional costs will arise if your dog requires tooth extractions or root canals. Your dog’s breed, weight, age, and dental condition determine the cost of the treatment, as well as the location of the vet practice.

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