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Table of contents
Key Takeaways
- Every pet undergoing a dental cleaning at Modern Animal has a dedicated anesthetist monitoring their vital signs throughout the entire procedure and recovery.
- Pre-anesthetic bloodwork and urinalysis are required before scheduling the procedure to make sure your pet is at low risk for complications.
- Your pet will stay with us for the full day so we can monitor them through recovery before they go home.
If your vet has recommended a dental cleaning for your pet and you're not sure what to expect, you're not alone. The idea of anesthesia can feel daunting, especially if your pet has never had a procedure before. Here's a straightforward look at how the day works and what Modern Animal does to make it as safe as possible.
What Is a COHAT?
COHAT stands for complete oral health assessment and treatment. It's the dental cleaning procedure your vet recommends when a thorough cleaning under anesthesia is needed. Unlike the dental consultation that happens at your pet's annual wellness visit, this is a full clinical procedure that allows your vet to do a thorough cleaning, probe for disease below the gumline, take dental X-rays, and address any issues that can't be assessed in a standard exam.
What Happens Before the Procedure?
Before the cleaning is scheduled, your vet will require pre-anesthetic bloodwork and a urinalysis. These aren't a formality. They're how we check for any underlying issues with internal organ function or blood health that could increase the risk of complications under anesthesia. If anything comes back that warrants attention, your vet will talk through it with you before moving forward.
How Is Anesthesia Managed?
Pet safety during anesthesia is taken seriously at Modern Animal. Every pet having a dental cleaning has a dedicated anesthetist assigned to them for the entire procedure. That team member is specially trained in anesthesia monitoring and will be charting your pet's vital signs continuously from the time they go under through the period directly after.
Having someone whose sole focus is your pet's safety throughout the day is one of the most important parts of how Modern Animal approaches these procedures.
What Does Drop-Off and Pick-Up Look Like?
You'll drop your pet off first thing in the morning. From there, the team takes over and keeps you updated with communications as the procedure progresses. Your pet stays with the team for the full day, not just for the cleaning itself, but through their recovery from anesthesia until they're ready to go home.
That full-day monitoring window is intentional. Recovery from anesthesia takes time, and keeping your pet in a supervised environment until they're stable is part of how Modern Animal makes sure they leave in good shape.
What Does a Dental Cleaning Cost?
Pricing varies depending on where you live and what's involved in your pet's specific procedure. The scope of work can differ significantly from one patient to the next based on the degree of dental disease present, whether extractions are needed, and what the X-rays reveal.
Your vet will walk you through the expected cost before anything is scheduled so there are no surprises. For a general overview of dental procedure pricing at Modern Animal, visit modernanimal.com/pricing. Everything is listed transparently so you know what to expect.
Your Pet Is in Good Hands
A dental cleaning is one of the more involved procedures your pet may need, but it's also one of the most impactful things you can do for their long-term health. Dental disease left untreated affects far more than your pet's mouth. If your vet has recommended a cleaning, booking is easy through the Modern Animal app. And if you have questions before the appointment, Modern Animal All Access and Essential members can reach our team anytime through 24/7 Virtual Care.
