Pet parents are usually the last to know about FDA drug recalls that may affect their pets. Teva Animal Health, Inc. was shut down in July 2009   At least two veterinary drugs manufactured by them had been recalled but few veterinarians knew about this, let alone pet parents.These drugs included butorphanol and ketamine.



Christie Keith, writing for Your Whole Pet, tells us about the seriousness of this recall. Let us focus on ketamine since it can be used prior to dental cleaning. On December 22, 2009, the FDA issued a press release about the recall. There had been an increased trend in serious adverse events associated with this product which included a lack of effect, prolonged effect and death. 

Teva stated that the distributors of this product were under no obligation to notify their customers, the veterinarians, about the recall. Christie goes on to reveal other facts about labeling regulations for drugs. Your vet may  have to dig deep to even know if the drug that he purchased from big pharma could have been manufactured by Teva.

On the other paw, Dr. Eric Barchas, DVM talks about the effectiveness of anesthesia-free dental work.He cites reasons why pets should have dental cleaning that includes removing dental calculus and infection above and below the gum line. With the aid of anesthesia, vets can also assess and treat dental pockets, odontoclastic resorpitive lesions and periodontitis and more.


My pet parent will continue to clean my teeth herself so that I do not have to undergo the risk of a serious side effect or death due to anesthesia. What does your pet parent think about all of this?  Ask them to comment here.

Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia

Pet parents notice when we have bad breath and usually schedule us for a dental checkup at that time. If they don’t do it sooner, they will  have to do it later after dental problems have appeared.

My pet parent takes responsibility for cleaning my teeth.  She really does not want me to have to undergo a stressful procedure at the veterinarian’s office.Lucky for her, I comply with brushing and scaling.  I know that I will get a fantastic treat when she is done. Even so, she is wondering if it’s not “that time.”


Dental problems can be more serious than pet parents expect.  When we have mouth pain, we may not eat enough or groom ourselves properly. Four common problems require dental care.


Naturally, accidents can damage the teeth and gums.  My predecessor was kicked in the face by a pony and ended up with a broken tooth. Some pets have congenital or developmental disorders…they can be candidates for the ugliest pet contest. Unless we are great chewers in a moderate fashion, we end up with periodontitis which is basically yuck on the teeth and bloody gums. A problem that you don’t want is tooth decay. That will lead to major problems when infection enters your blood stream.



Normally, you have to have a physical checkup before scheduling a routine cleaning.  They may want to do blood work first if you have had previous health issues. A basic cleaning for a forty-pound dog like me in my area costs about $275.00. My nephew is only three and lives on the East Coast.  His vet wants to charge $900.00 to clean his teeth.  Unfortunately, his mom is out of work and has not been able to get it done for him. 


Some pet parents go to the extreme with dental care.  Patty Khuly, VMD, MBA, writes about appropriate dental care on her PetMD blog. Some pet parents have psychiatric disorders that cause them to invent health conditions for their pets and get high on the attention and satisfaction that they receive from “caring” for them. 

Dr. Khuly admits that there are a few vets that take advantage of pet parents with this condition to benefit financially.  This is when we pets need to have a voice in our veterinary care!

Ask your pet parent to comment on your dental care.

Pet Companion to animal lover Amelia