New Clients. Dental Exams & Pre-Anesthetic Screening

If you are a new client interested in scheduling a dental cleaning for your furry friend, we require an initial examination ($70) and recommend pre-surgical bloodwork ($105) at the time of that visit.

Why is an exam important before anesthesia?

Your pet's safety is our priority! During the examination, we will listen carefully to your pet's heart to check for murmurs or abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias) that could increase the risks associated with anesthesia. If we identify any concerns, we will discuss whether additional testing or special precautions are recommended before proceeding.

Why do we recommend pre-surgical bloodwork?

Even pets that appear perfectly healthy can have underlying medical conditions that aren't obvious during a physical examination. Pre-surgical bloodwork helps us evaluate important aspects of your pet's health, including:

Kidney function: To identify concerns that could affect anesthesia, hydration, and medication management.
Liver function: To screen for abnormalities that may affect how your pet processes anesthetic drugs and pain medications.
Blood glucose: To screen for abnormalities, including those associated with diabetes.
Overall health: To identify potential concerns that may require adjustments to your pet's anesthetic or recovery plan.

Our goal is to minimize anesthetic risks by identifying potential concerns before your pet undergoes a procedure.

We believe in providing you with the information you need to make an informed decision about your pet's care. While no anesthetic procedure is completely without risk, a thorough examination and recommended bloodwork help us develop an individualized anesthetic plan with your pet's safety and comfort in mind.

Dental Cleaning Pricing - typically not over $1000

Professional Dental Cleaning — Starting at $300

Our $300 dental package includes a thorough oral examination, dental radiographs (X-rays), and professional scaling and polishing of all teeth. A nail trim during recovery is included as well as an injectable dose of pain medication (24 hours for dogs & 3 days for cats, pending bloodwork results).

We believe in transparent, affordable pricing with no unexpected surprises!

What if my pet needs extractions?

During your pet's dental procedure, we may discover damaged, infected, or painful teeth that require extraction. We discuss the possibility of extractions and obtain your authorization before your pet undergoes anesthesia.
While the final cost depends on the number and complexity of extractions needed, we limit additional dental charges to no more than $500 above the base dental package price. This means you can make an informed financial decision before your pet's procedure.

What about medications after surgery?

If extractions are necessary, your pet will receive appropriate pain management and antibiotics when indicated. Take-home medications, when prescribed, typically cost less than $100.
Cat parents, don't worry! We know giving medications to cats can sometimes feel like an Olympic sport! Whenever medically appropriate, we use injectable pain medications and antibiotics to minimize the need for medications at home. In many cases, all you'll need to do is provide a little extra TLC and soft food while your kitty heals!

Our Spay & Neuter Policy

As part of our commitment to reducing pet overpopulation, pets undergoing sedation or general anesthesia for dental procedures must already be spayed/neutered or be spayed/neutered during the same anesthetic event, in accordance with our clinic policy.
Please discuss this requirement with our team when scheduling your pet's procedure if your pet will also need to be spayed/neutered.

Is a rabies vaccine required? Yes! For the safety of your pet, our veterinary team, and in accordance with Texas law, all pets undergoing dental procedures must be current on their rabies vaccination. Proof of vaccination must be provided in the form of an official Rabies Vaccination Certificate. Unfortunately, rabies tags alone are not accepted as proof of vaccination. If a valid certificate cannot be provided, your pet will be required to receive an updated rabies vaccine at the time of their visit for an additional $15.

Please note: The pricing provided above is a general estimate to help you plan for your pet's dental care. During your pet's pre-operative examination, our team will prepare a personalized estimate based on their individual dental needs and anticipated treatment. We want you to feel informed and comfortable with both the recommended care and expected costs before moving forward with anesthesia.

We take payment at time of service. We offer CareCredit and Scratch Pay as payment plans. Visit our Payment Options page for more information/to apply.

What to Expect

Click to watch us perform a dental cleaning on Wolfie!

Is a dental cleaning a day procedure? Yes! Your pet will be dropped off between 8:00–9:00 AM, with pickup typically between 1:00–3:00 PM. The exact pickup time depends on how quickly your furry friend recovers from anesthesia. Just like people, some pets are "cheap drunks" and need a little extra time to sleep it off, while others wake up ready to go home and see their favorite humans! Recovery time also depends on the anesthetic protocol used. We tailor anesthesia to each patient's individual needs, including age and overall health. For many of our senior patients, we use shorter-acting medications, such as butorphanol and propofol, to help facilitate a smoother, more predictable recovery. Your pet may still be a little sleepy or groggy that evening, but most are back to their normal, happy selves by the following day!

Will my pet have bleeding or stitches after dental extractions? A small amount of blood-tinged saliva is normal following dental extractions, and some pets may even experience mild bleeding from their nose. This is because the nasal cavity and mouth are separated by a very thin layer of bone, particularly in our smaller patients, and certain tooth roots sit very close to the nasal passages. Depending on which teeth were extracted and how extensive the procedure was, some minor bleeding can be expected during the initial recovery period. Your pet may also have dissolvable stitches (sutures) along their gumline, which typically dissolve within 10–14 days. If the sutures are still present or causing irritation after that time, we are happy to schedule a complimentary recheck and suture removal at no additional charge! While mild blood-tinged saliva or nasal spotting can occur, persistent or heavy bleeding is not normal and should be reported to our team promptly.

Will my pet still be able to eat if they have several teeth removed, or even all of them?

Absolutely! In fact, many pets are much happier and more comfortable once their painful, infected teeth are gone!

Following dental extractions, we recommend feeding canned food or soaking dry kibble in water to soften it for 10–14 days while the gums heal. After recovery, pets with few or no remaining teeth may benefit from a soft diet long-term. However, you might be surprised to learn that some pets, even those without a single tooth, still prefer crunchy kibble! Some will even sneak over to their housemate's food bowl to enjoy the dry food. As long as their mouth has healed and they can comfortably eat it, that's perfectly fine!

Will my pet look different after extractions? Possibly, and that's okay! Certain teeth, particularly the canine teeth (fangs), help support the lips and surrounding facial tissues. When these teeth are removed, you may notice that your pet's lip sits a little differently or drifts inward. Their tongue may also hang out of their mouth, especially if several teeth have been removed. These changes are generally cosmetic and do not prevent your pet from living a happy, healthy life.

For our mustached friends, particularly breeds like Schnauzers and Shih Tzus, we sometimes recommend keeping the hair around the mouth trimmed short. If the lip shifts after extractions, longer facial hair can tickle or irritate the tongue, causing your pet to lick excessively.

What about recovery? Most pets are feeling much more like themselves by the following day, although their mouth will need approximately 10–14 days to heal. If extractions were performed, dissolvable sutures may be present along the gumline. A small amount of blood-tinged saliva can be normal initially. During recovery, avoid hard treats, chew toys, bones, and anything that could irritate the healing gums.

Our goal isn't simply to give your pet a cleaner smile — it's to eliminate oral pain and infection so they can enjoy eating, playing, and living comfortably again. A pet doesn't need a full mouth of teeth to have an excellent quality of life. Sometimes, a toothless smile is the happiest smile of all! 🐾

Preventative Care...How to get the most bang for you buck!

How can I keep my pet's teeth clean after their dental procedure? You might be surprised to learn that without consistent dental care at home, your pet's mouth can return to its pre-cleaning condition in as little as 12 weeks! Periodontal disease is an ongoing battle, and prevention is key to keeping those pearly whites healthy. Daily toothbrushing is the gold standard, but we know that's not always realistic for every pet (or pet parent!). For dogs who enjoy chewing, Dr. Knowlton's favorite daily preventative is OraVet Dental Hygiene Chews, which help reduce plaque and tartar buildup. They act as a tooth brush & mouth rinse! For our feline friends, she prefers dental water additives, since convincing a cat to let you brush their teeth can be quite the adventure! Just remember to wait until your pet's mouth has fully healed before introducing dental chews or brushing after extractions. Not all dental products are created equal, so we recommend choosing products approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). Visit VOHC.org for a list of products proven to help control plaque and/or tartar in dogs and cats. A little daily prevention can go a long way toward avoiding another dental procedure!

How to schedule

1. Please fill out our New Client New Patient Form

2. Then reach out via text, call, email, or you can schedule online.

clinic@godsdogsrescue.org

210-952-1112