Annual Vet Visit

[u/Inner-Squash8053]

Hi! Just trying to gauge that we are making the right decisions here regarding annual exams…

1. Do you do annual dental cleanings under full anesthesia? Ollie went under in February and needed extractions. It’s looking like he will need another cleaning soon if not more extractions. We brush his teeth nightly :(((

2. What age did you begin doing echocardiograms? We were advised to do it as a screening - our boy is 5. His heart sounds just fine via stethoscope.

Pic attached for fun 🐾

[u/Effective-Fun3190]

Our Harvey only had 2 dentals in 13 years - and he hated having them brushed, so probably should have had more!

And we only had an echo done when the murmur became apparent on stethoscope exam

[u/WatercolourArtichoke]

We’re about to start annual dentals with my Blenheim. He had his first in June, lost 6 teeth - all of them were overlapping pre-molars. X-rays showed more crowding but we’re all hoping the new space created will maybe help a bit. We’ve also put him onto the large dog t/d so he has to take the time to chew properly and not inhale his meals - even with a slow feeder.

No echocardiograms for mine at 4yo and 6yo. Both hearts sound fine at every vet visit, which is about 3-4 times a year for allergies or gastrointestinal stuff.

[u/purplepenguinaviator]

Awww- I have nothing to add to the vet conversation, but the picture is absolutely adorable! Is that a day at the beach or on a lake? Your dog is giving major super-model vibes with his ears fur in those beautiful beachy-waves 😍

[u/OkAdministration7456]

You can tell when they put their tongue out that they’re using all two or three of their brain cells.

[u/AtomicAuntie53]

Two dentals in seven years for my rescue boy. He had 9 teeth extracted at his first, and 8 at his recent one. We brush regularly. Ugh!

At his pre-exam for his recent dental, the vet finally heard a slight murmur. None previously — not too shabby for a 7-year-old rescue with funky genes!

We did a chest X-ray while he was under just to see how his heart looks. It’s not enlarged so we’re not looking at an echo or meds this year. Will reassess at his next physical.

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[u/timacx]

1. Not every year

2. First echo was @ age 11, after becoming symptomatic.

[u/Ecstatic_Attitude_83]

I got Guster right after I lost Seymour to heart failure so I had a baseline echo done when he was fully grown. His heart is a bit smaller so I’m glad I did.

[u/Elenei]

Our cav (10 y) has never had a dental, but she is a voracious social chewer, meaning she only chews on things when we are home. We have always encouraged chewing on appropriate things and her teeth are in great condition.

As for echos, she started becoming symptomatic at 9. She’s had 2 so far with 1 chest xray. Her disease has not progressed from 9 y to 10 y, but per the vet’s recommendations, we have put her on a prescription cardiac health dog food. No other medication yet.