Dear Dr. B,

My vet recently recommended a dental cleaning for my six-year-old dog. She says my dog needs to be put under anesthesia for the procedure, and that worries me. Is it safe? I don’t need anesthesia to get my teeth cleaned, so why should she?

C. Ciarmello, New York

In my opinion, a lot of vets use the expression “dental cleaning” inappropriately. And you are right–simply cleaning the teeth does not always require anesthesia. However, if your vet is recommending dental work, it is probably because your dog has periodontal disease. That means that she has an infection in the gums, and possibly the ligaments and bones around the teeth. And that can be a serious matter.

Periodontal disease is by far the most common medical problem I see in my patients. Since animals don’t brush their teeth after each meal, food sticks to the teeth. Bacteria grow on the food, and then spread into the gums and the tissues around the teeth. That infection is the basic problem with periodontal disease.

To remove the infection, and to properly inspect each tooth and perform extractions (pull teeth) or other advanced treatments, anesthesia is necessary. The good news is that anesthesia is nowhere near as risky as it used to be. Good vets take a number of precautions to minimize risk to pets during anesthetic periodontal work, and you should not hesitate to ask your vet what precautions she intends to take with your dog.

In my experience, in most instances the benefits of performing dental work on pets far outweigh the risks. In fact, there are significant risks in not performing dental work when periodontal disease is present. Dental disease has been demonstrated to contribute to (and I swear I’m not making this up): chronic pain, decreased lifespan, infections in the heart and possibly the liver and kidneys, loss of the ability to smell, autoimmune disease, malaise, lethargy, aggression, pathologic weight loss, skin problems, and death. In case that’s not bad enough, in people periodontal disease has been associated with stroke, heart attack, and diabetes. Yikes.

I perform a lot of dental work on my patients, in part to avoid the problems listed above. However, in the vast majority of cases, my clients report that after dental work, their pets are livelier, more active, and simply seem happier. In my opinion, that alone is reason enough to do it.

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Dear Dr. Barchas,

I have been hearing a lot about West Nile virus in my area. Can my dog and cat be infected with West Nile? Can they spread the virus to me?

J. Fenster, Topeka

West Nile virus has spread rapidly across the U.S. over the last few years. It primarily affects birds, horses, and people. In rare instances, people infected with the virus can experience meningitis, encephalitis (a brain infection), and death. That’s why it is in the news so much.

Based on blood tests, it appears that dogs and cats can be infected with the virus. However, they almost never get sick from it. And, they are especially unlikely to die, or to serve as reservoirs of the disease. In other words, West Nile virus does not pose much of a health risk to dogs and cats.

West Nile virus is spread by mosquitoes, and transmission from house pets to people is not thought to occur.

Although West Nile virus isn’t much of a threat to dogs and cats, there are still reasons for your pets to avoid mosquitoes. Both species are vulnerable to deadly heartworm disease, which is spread by mosquitoes. And some cats can suffer severe allergic reactions after being bitten by mosquitoes.

The best way to avoid mosquitoes is to keep your pet indoors and away from mosquito infested areas, especially at dawn and dusk. Human mosquito repellents should not be used on pets, especially cats. Medications that prevent heartworm disease are available for dogs and cats. Ask your vet whether one of these medicines is appropriate for your pet.

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