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"Basically [AAHA] is telling us that we’re not doing a good job,” Davis said. "The staff is taking it hard. We’re dedicated, well-educated, disciplined professionals who want to do the right thing. But we feel that the change in this policy is clearly going to hinder our dental health program.”
He suggested that AAHA develop guidelines "based on patient selection and how to make this work rather than just pulling the plug on it.”
Knutson stood by the mandate.
"At this time, there are no studies to show that non-anesthetic dentals work as well as charting, cleaning and taking full-mouth X-rays when a patient is intubated,” she said. "As a medical professional, you need to be able to give your client a correct diagnosis.
"It is also a welfare issue,” she added. "We have no idea what stress hormones are released in a pet who is having an awake non-anesthetic dental procedure performed on them. Further research on non-anesthetic dentals is needed before any guidelines by any organization could be developed.”
Davis is considering following Dr. Lund and giving up his AAHA accreditation.
"We haven’t made a final decision, but we are leaning that way,” he said.
AAHA acknowledged that some members may cut ties.
"Whenever we pass new standards there will be members who won’t [abide] and won’t be able to receive accreditation,” communications manager Kate Spencer said. "It won’t necessarily surprise us if not everyone complies.
"The vast majority of what we’ve heard is positive.” |