Every answer, no appointment needed

No. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia: your pet feels no pain during it.

Afterward, we provide analgesics for 3 to 5 days to keep them comfortable. Most animals resume normal activities within 24 to 48 hours.

Yes. We use modern, safe anesthetic protocols. Every animal receives:

• A complete pre-anesthetic blood panel, done about a week ahead
• Anesthesia tailored to weight, age and health status
• Constant monitoring (heart rate, oxygen, temperature)
• Intravenous fluid therapy for stabilization
• Qualified staff present at all times

Anesthetic risk is very low for animals in good general health.

With a heart murmur or known heart disease, we usually do not perform dental procedures.

General anesthesia requires a heart that can handle it. That is why the pre-anesthetic exam and blood panel are done about a week ahead: the veterinarian listens to the heart, checks the organs and reviews the file before the procedure is confirmed, never the morning of.

If your pet has a heart condition, mention it when booking: the veterinarian assesses the situation and discusses the options with you.

Anesthesia-free dental cleaning has several major problems:

• It cannot clean below the gum line, where 60% of problems develop
• Significant stress for the animal
• Risk of injury if the animal moves
• Dental X-rays cannot be taken
• Disease keeps progressing beneath the surface

Duration varies with the complexity of the case:

• Simple scaling: about 1 hour to 1.5 hours depending on size
• With extractions: 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on extent
• Recovery and observation: 2 to 3 hours

Your pet can generally go home the same day, in the late afternoon.

Frequency depends on several factors:

• Good dental health: every 1 to 2 years
• Predisposed breeds (small, brachycephalic): generally yearly
• History of dental disease: every 6 to 12 months
• With regular home brushing: less often

At the annual exam, we assess your pet's specific needs.

In most cases, yes. Older pets often benefit even more, because:

• Dental disease tends to worsen with age
• Eliminating infection protects vital organs (heart, kidneys, liver)
• Relieving chronic pain improves quality of life
• It can restore appetite and energy

We adapt the protocol to age and health. The pre-operative blood panel lets us assess risks and adjust our approach.

If you notice signs of dental disease, we recommend not delaying:

• Dental disease progresses quickly
• The longer you wait, the more complex the procedure
• Your pet may be suffering silently in the meantime
• Risks to overall health increase over time

It is best to act as soon as you notice signs of a dental problem.

A treatment plan adapted to your pet

Veterinary dentistry is not one-size-fits-all. Here is how we structure our care.

Step 1: the base plan, by your pet's size

Anesthetic drugs are dosed in mg/kg, gas flow follows body weight, and the dental surface to scale grows with size: the base plan depends on your pet's size and adjusts to the stage of dental disease.

All base plans include these essential safety and quality elements:

Step 2: extractions, added only if needed

Once your pet is asleep and X-rays are taken, we assess the real extent of the work. Extractions are billed by time ($155 for each 10-minute block started), post-extraction LASER therapy included in the ranges; these amounts are added to the step 1 base plan:

All amounts are before taxes. A written, personalized treatment plan is always given to you before any care.

Our standard payment terms:

• The $100 reservation fee, paid at booking, is credited in full to the invoice
• 50% of the treatment plan (taxes included) is required before the anesthetic procedure
• The balance is payable when your pet goes home

We accept: cash, debit and credit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express).

If the final cost differs significantly from the initial plan, we call you during the procedure to obtain your authorization before continuing.

Coverage depends on your policy:

• Preventive care: rarely covered
• Dental disease treatment: often partially covered, once the disease is diagnosed

We provide all necessary documents (detailed invoices, veterinary notes) to support your claims. Check the details directly with your insurer.

Regular brushing is the best prevention. It lets you:

• Space out professional cleanings
• Reduce long-term dental care costs
• Prevent pain and associated diseases
• Improve overall health and longevity

Daily brushing is ideal, but 3 to 4 times a week already brings real benefits.

It is normal for animals to resist at first. Here is a gradual approach that works:

1. Week 1: simply touch their lips and teeth with your finger. Reward generously.
2. Week 2: introduce pet toothpaste on your finger (the taste appeals to them).
3. Week 3: use a rubber finger brush with gentle movements.
4. Week 4: gradually switch to a pet toothbrush.

Most animals adapt in 2 to 4 weeks. We can demonstrate the techniques during your visit.

No method is as effective as brushing, but some complementary options help:

• Specialized dental kibble (Hill's t/d, Royal Canin Dental)
• VOHC-approved dental treats
• Drinking-water additives
• Appropriate chew toys

Avoid: cooked bones and deer antlers, too hard and a risk of tooth fracture.

Ignoring dental disease can have serious consequences:

If teeth must be extracted, it is because they are already too damaged to be saved: tartar was holding them in place artificially.

Extracting diseased teeth lets us:

• Eliminate a constant source of infection
• Relieve your pet's pain
• Prevent the infection from spreading

Wait times vary by season:

• Assessment consultation: generally 1 to 2 weeks
• Scheduled dental procedure: 2 to 4 weeks
• Urgent cases: prioritized within 3 to 5 days

Call us at 514 223-1197 for current availability.

The pre-anesthetic blood panel is done about a week before the procedure, at a separate visit. Results are reviewed before anesthesia: if anything needs adjusting, you know in advance, not the morning of.

This is also when the veterinarian confirms nothing stands in the way of anesthesia.

Yes, pre-anesthetic fasting is necessary:

• Food: remove 12 hours before the procedure (midnight the night before)
• Water: remove 2 to 3 hours before arriving at the clinic
• Regular medication: we tell you what to give or withhold

A detailed instruction sheet is provided when you book.

Generally the same day, in the late afternoon:

• Drop-off: morning (between 7am and 9am)
• Procedure: in the morning
• Pickup: around 4pm to 5pm

We call as soon as your pet is awake and ready to go home. All post-operative instructions are given at pickup.

Each February is Pet Dental Health Month. It is a good time to plan an exam or a cleaning if your pet needs one, and to bring home prevention back to the front of mind.