This is a decision you must make on your own after discussing it with his vet. My little girl was having a problem with one of her molars, and my husband and I were convinced that it was making her anxious. Because she had an enlarged heart, her doctor would no longer do her annual dentals and would only put her under anesthesia unless it was necessary. Once we were able to reduce the size of her heart with Chinese herbal medication (she had been taking enalapril for her heart), he was able to remove the infected tooth and clean her teeth. She was 16.5 years old at the time, and she was able to live without pain for another 9 months. Her anxiety definitely was reduced and her heart was also stronger without the threat of periodontal disease causing damage to it and her health. Knowing your little one better than anyone else, you can probably assess how much the tooth is bothering him or how it is affecting his behavior. We absolutely loved and trusted our vet, and once he was reasonably sure that Ashley would survive the anesthesia, we had the dental done, even though he didn't think it was causing her as much anxiety as we thought it did. Once she recovered from the surgery, Ashley was able to eat more freely and seemed so much better. |