My old chihuahua needs teeth out. Is anesthesia safe with heart/kidney issues?

Question

I have a 15 year old chihuahua with heart and kidney problems. My mother and I took her to the vet yesterday because she’s started to develop an infection and a wiggly tooth in her mouth, causing her to stop eating. The vet prescribed her 2 different pain medications and told her she has to get the rest of her teeth taken out (about 4 teeth because she got most of it taken out when she was younger). We have to make a decision but we don’t know if she would wake up from the procedure if we did it. Pet's info: Dog | Chihuahua (Long Coat) | Female | spayed | 6 lbs

Jenna Beyer, DVM, MBA, cVMA · Accepted Answer

It can be very scary to consider anesthesia in a dog with heart and kidney issues, for sure. But rotten teeth are also a very significant health issue. They become easily infected, and bacteria can get in the blood stream and will stick to areas that aren't functioning normally, like heart valves and kidneys. So by leaving the rotten, loose teeth in the mouth, you are at an increased risk of causing damage to the heart and kidneys. There are many precautions we take when considering anesthesia in these patients, but ultimately we do it to prolong their lives.

My old chihuahua needs teeth out. Is anesthesia safe with heart/kidney issues?

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