19 Nov Is Your Pet Too Old for Anesthesia for a Dental Procedure?
As a board-certified veterinary dentist, I often hear this question from caring pet parents:
“Is my pet too old for anesthesia?”
It’s a fair concern—especially if you share your home with a beloved senior dog or cat. The good news is that age alone doesn’t determine whether anesthesia is safe. What matters most is your pet’s overall health, the type of procedure, and—most importantly—the skill and experience of the veterinary team managing the anesthesia.
At our Colorado Springs practice, we specialize in providing safe, individualized senior pet anesthesia for dogs and cats who need advanced dental care. With the right preparation, monitoring, and support, older pets can safely receive the dental treatment they need to stay comfortable and healthy.
Why Senior Pets Often Need Dental Care the Most
Just like people, pets are more prone to dental disease as they age. Years of plaque buildup, gum inflammation, and hidden infection can lead to pain, tooth loss, and even systemic illness. Unfortunately, these problems often go unnoticed because pets rarely show obvious signs of discomfort. We commonly see senior cats and dogs that have never had any form of consistent dental care and are dealing with terrible dental disease. We work with our pet owners to put together a safe and state-of-the-art anesthesia protocol for their much-loved pet.
Many pet parents come to us after noticing subtle changes—like bad breath, drooling, or reluctance to chew harder food. After treatment, they’re amazed to see their pet acting years younger, eating better, and enjoying life again. It is not unusual for us to see and “old” 10-year-old dog and make them a “young” 10-year-old dog after a dental procedure.
The truth is, dental disease is painful at any age, but especially so for senior pets. Professional dental care under anesthesia is the only way to clean below the gumline, take cone beam CT scans or dental X-rays, and treat disease effectively and safely. No dog or cat will allow a veterinary team to perform these needed procedures while awake.
Partnering with My Anesthesiologist for Expert-Level Senior Pet Anesthesia Safety
To provide the highest standard of care for every patient, our team partners with My Anesthesiologist, a group of board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists who specialize in anesthesia for older dogs and cats and pets of any age.
This collaboration ensures that every pet, especially those with age-related health concerns, receives a custom-tailored anesthetic plan. We always collaborate on our cases with My Anesthesiologists, but especially for pets with conditions, such as heart, liver or kidney disease. Some pets have had past issues with anesthesia, such as a slow recovery. Together, we take a proactive, team-based approach that includes:
- Comprehensive pre-anesthetic evaluation and diagnostics
- Customized anesthesia protocols for your pet’s specific needs. These plans are reviewed in detail with the on-site veterinary team prior to the procedure.
- Continuous anesthetic monitoring by a dedicated anesthesiologist via livestream connectivity
- Advanced equipment to track vital signs, blood pressure, ECG, capnography and oxygenation
- Individualized pain management and gentle recovery care
With this partnership, even pets with heart disease, kidney changes, or other senior conditions can receive the safest possible anesthesia experience.
Today’s Anesthesia Is Safer Than Ever, Especially for Senior Pets
Modern veterinary anesthesia is far more advanced than it was even a decade ago. At our practice, we use:
- Short-acting, reversible anesthetic agents for faster, smoother recovery
- IV fluid support to maintain blood pressure and circulation
- Active body warming systems to keep your pet comfortable
- Continuous monitoring and immediate response protocols at every stage
Our team’s experience, combined with the expertise of My Anesthesiologist, gives Colorado Springs pet owners peace of mind knowing their beloved companion is in skilled, attentive hands.
Age Isn’t a Risk, but Untreated Dental Disease Is
While it’s natural to worry about anesthesia for senior pets, untreated dental disease carries far greater risks. Chronic oral infection can spread bacteria through the bloodstream, damaging the heart, liver, and kidneys – organs that are already more vulnerable in older pets. It has been shown that the worse the periodontal disease is, the worse the negative changes in the heart, liver and kidneys.
After treatment, many clients tell us they wish they hadn’t waited—their pets feel brighter, more active, and more engaged once dental pain and infection are resolved.
Expert, Compassionate Care for Colorado Springs Pets
Your pet’s comfort and safety are always our top priorities. With the combined knowledge of our board-certified veterinary dentist and the board-certified veterinary anesthesiologists of My Anesthesiologist, you can feel confident that your senior pet will receive exceptional care every step of the way, including the safest approach to senior pet anesthesia.
If you’ve been wondering whether your pet is too old for anesthesia, we’re here to help. Schedule a consultation, and we’ll assess your pet’s health, discuss all options, and design a safe, personalized plan to restore their oral health—and their joy.
Because every pet, no matter their age, deserves to be pain-free and infection-free in their mouths!
Images used under creative commons license – commercial use (11/19/2025) Photo by VetriScience Laboratories on Unsplash
