My 13-year-old dog has very rotten teeth. Is it too late for her?

Question

My dog has teeth that look very rotten and I was wondering, even if she's 13 years if there's anything I can do? Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua | Female | unspayed | 12 years and 4 months old | 6 lbs

Dr. Strydom, DVM · Accepted Answer

Leela needs her teeth professionally cleaned by a vet. It appears as though she has at least Grade 3 periodontal disease. Thirteen years old for a small breed dog is not old. Your vet will do some blood testing before the procedure to make sure her organs can process the anesthesia appropriately. The anesthetics used in animals are just like the ones used for people - they are very safe. If you are worried about the anesthetic procedure I suggest you discuss your concerns with your vet so they can walk you through the procedure. Nothing you can do at home will help these teeth. Dental disease is very serious. Dog can lose their teeth but the biggest danger is that they face a higher risk for other diseases because the bacteria that are responsible for dental disease can enter the bloodstream and infect the heart, kidneys and/or other organs. Please go to your veterinarian for a consultation to discuss a dental cleaning for Leela. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

My 13-year-old dog has very rotten teeth. Is it too late for her?

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