Anesthesia & Safety
Your Pet’s Safety is our Highest Priority
For many pet owners, anesthesia is the biggest concern when considering a dental procedure. At The Hospital for Veterinary Dentistry & Oral Surgery, patient safety is at the heart of every treatment we perform.
General anesthesia is essential for veterinary dentistry. Dental procedures involve sharp instruments, work beneath the gumline, and require complete stillness to ensure your pet remains comfortable, pain-free, and safe throughout the procedure. It also allows us to perform a thorough oral examination and provide the highest quality care without causing fear, stress, or discomfort.
EVERY PATIENT RECEIVES AN INDIVIDUALIZED ANESTHETIC PLAN
No two patients are alike. Before anesthesia, each pet receives a comprehensive physical examination and appropriate pre-anesthetic diagnostics. We develop a customized anesthetic protocol based on your pet’s:
- Age
- Breed and weight
- Medical history
- Current health status
- Dental and oral condition
Our anesthetic protocols are designed to maximize comfort while minimizing risk and include:
- Sevoflurane inhalant anesthesia
- Local anesthetic nerve blocks
- Multimodal pain management before, during, and after surgery
- Intravenous (IV) catheter placement and fluid therapy
- Individualized recovery protocols
ADVANCED MONITORING THROUGHOUT EVERY PROCEDURE
Your pet is never left unattended while under anesthesia.
Our doctors and highly trained veterinary technicians continuously monitor your pet using advanced monitoring equipment that tracks:
- Heart rate and ECG
- Blood pressure
- Oxygen saturation (SpO₂)
- Carbon dioxide levels (Capnography)
- Respiratory rate
- Body temperature
This allows us to detect even subtle changes immediately and respond as needed, ensuring your pet remains safe throughout the procedure.
SPECIALIZED CARE FOR HIGHER RISK PATIENTS
Some pets require an even higher level of anesthetic expertise due to age or underlying medical conditions.
For these patients, we collaborate with board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists who provides specialized anesthetic care at both of our hospital locations. We also utilize remote anesthesiology monitoring for select high-risk cases, adding another layer of expertise throughout the procedure.
These additional resources allow us to safely care for many patients that might otherwise be considered too high-risk for advanced dental treatment.
MORE THAN A DENTAL CLEANING
While your pet is safely under anesthesia, we perform a complete oral health assessment that simply cannot be accomplished while they are awake.
This includes:
- Comprehensive oral examination
- Evaluation of every tooth
- Full-mouth dental radiographs
- Professional ultrasonic and hand scaling above and below the gumline
- Tooth polishing to smooth enamel surfaces and reduce future plaque accumulation
- OraVet® Barrier Sealant application to help reduce plaque formation for up to two weeks following the procedure
These steps allow us to diagnose hidden dental disease, create an accurate treatment plan, and provide the highest standard of care.
RECOVERY
The vast majority of our patients recover smoothly and return home the very same day.
Our team carefully monitors each patient throughout recovery to ensure they are comfortable, alert, and ready to return home. Before discharge, we review all findings, discuss home care instructions, answer your questions, and provide individualized pain management recommendations when needed.
WHY PET OWNERS TRUST HVDOS
Advanced veterinary dentistry requires advanced anesthesia.
Our commitment to individualized anesthetic care, experienced doctors and technicians, advanced monitoring equipment, and access to board-certified anesthesiology expertise allows us to provide exceptional care—even for many complex or high-risk patients.
When your pet is with us, they are treated with the same level of attention and care we would want for our own family members.
Here when you need us.
If you believe your dog needs care, please let us know. We’ll be happy to assist.