Q:   I just had a quote of $700.00 to clean my dog's teeth. She is eight, and has tarter buildup. Can I brush her teeth daily from now on to avoid this, or must she go into surgery for a teeth-cleaning? How critical are tooth-related health problems?

A:  If your veterinarian has recommended the teeth cleaning, then it is probably necessary, particularly if she has never had her teeth cleaned. The cost reflects the fact that the teeth cleaning involves general anesthesia in addition to professional skill. The veterinarian has to anesthetize the dog, scale the teeth on all sides, check for gum disease or infection, and polish the teeth. Sometimes x-rays are taken. The price probably also includes preoperative blood tests to check for problems that could affect her reaction to the anesthesia, because of your dog's age. She may also be getting antibiotics, because the cleaning can release bacteria into the bloodstream. Antibiotics keep the bacteria from causing serious problems in the heart and other organs. She will probably get intravenous fluids to maintain her blood pressure and prevent complications. So you can see that it is much more involved than when we get our own teeth cleaned. But it is very important for the overall health of our pets.

Brushing is a great idea if you start with clean teeth. Brushing teeth that are covered in plaque is not going to be effective. When your dog comes home with a clean and healthy mouth, you should try to brush regularly to prevent tartar buildup. Many different products are available for brushing - ask your veterinarian for a recommendation. (This is sometimes a fun thing for older kids in the family to do.)