Anaesthesia-Free Teeth Cleaning: Safe, Stress-Free Dental Care For Your Cavoodle

Is your Cavoodle prone to bad teeth? No matter what you feed them or how many dental chews they get, do they still end up needing an expensive vet clean?

You’re not alone. I’ve been through this with my girls, Bambi and Daisy, and I hear from Cavoodle owners all the time that dental health is one of their biggest struggles.

It’s easy to think a bit of tartar is no big deal but left untreated, it can lead to gingivitis and infections that spread through the bloodstream, causing serious health issues. Dental care for our Cavoodles is serious business and not just about fresh breath or cute photo-op smiles. Their teeth impact their overall wellbeing.

In Australia, dental disease is the most common health condition affecting pets, with around 80% of dogs showing signs by the age of three. Ouch!

Two of the biggest concerns I hear from owners are the cost of professional teeth cleaning, and the anxiety that comes with putting their dogs under anaesthesia. It’s stressful and expensive and that’s why I was so interested when I first heard about anaesthesia-free oral hygiene for dogs.

To find out more about how it works (and whether it really lives up to the hype), I spoke with Jade from Toof, an Aussie company offering anaesthesia-free teeth cleaning for dogs and it’s genuinely changing the lives of Cavoodle owners. 

What does Toof that is different from a normal teeth clean at the vet?

Our specialists do a full scale clean that requires no down time or after-care without putting your dog under anaesthesic which is always worrying. This done by gently hand scaling each tooth

It provides a safe, stress-free alternative to traditional dental procedures. 

We use holistic, compassionate techniques to assess, clean, and maintain your dog’s oral health without the need for sedation. Our approach focuses on reducing plaque and tartar buildup, preventing gum disease and bad breath, supporting overall organ health and educating parents on long-term maintenance and prevention.

Every dog is treated with patience, care, and love because we know that a calm dog is a cooperative dog.

Why are Cavoodles so much more prone to this or oodles in general?

Unfortunately the cavoodle doesn’t stand much of a chance against early periodontal disease. The “Cav” in the cavoodle (caviliers)  have really tiny incisors and the gum lines aren’t well equipped in holding them in place, so even with minor chewing, the food and plaque naturally gets trapped behind those little front teeth that are smaller than rice grains and often loosen very early on.

Then there is the poodle in the cavoodle who are prone to over crowded teeth, so those rear molars don’t stand a chance, the build up is rapid and because they can’t chew heavily with their tiny mouths, the build up is visible within a year or so after adult teeth are fully grown.

With the cavoodle, once a little bit of tartar presents, bacteria gets trapped in the gum line, and swelling begins, this is the “gingivitis” humans know well. That swelling increases blood flow where the bacteria is trapped, and is then absorbed into the blood stream. This is where it gets dangerous for the cavoodle, with the heart conditions these breeds are prone too ,that  bacteria runs through the blood stream and can cause serious damage to major organs, including the heart.

Regular cleans/ maintenance programs (3 monthly) even oral health checks are highly recommended.

Do I need to put my cavoodle under anaesthesia to get their teeth cleaned?

This is a big question to the owner, there are common, obvious concerns with sending your dog under heavy sedation on a yearly basis to have a full scale dental, but with the cavoodle we are presented with additional concerns that come with the breeding.

Cavaliers, (the CAV in the cavoodle) are renowned for heart conditions, the most common is the Mitral valve, it degenerates, doesn’t seal properly and can worsen with age, 50% of cavoodles have presented with MVD by age 5 in Australia. These are terrifying statistics which is why putting a dog under anaesthesia with undiagnosed or misdiagnosed MVP, means the heart is working harder than it needs to pump, as the anaesthesia lowers blood pressure. That’s when it gets dicey for the dog.

The mini/ toy poodles (the OODLE in the cavoodle) are also prone to MVD as well as other conditions whether congenital or developed that increase the delicacy of the cavoodles well being while under anaesthetic.

What do you recommend owners do between cleans to keep their dogs teeth healthy clean and avoid buildup?

Once that tartar build up is gone, or when you first bring your cavoodle home, some simple home tips can be:

• Get your dog used to gauze and coconut oil, best and cheapest at home treatment that you can use. The gauze is abrasive enough that it will remove that bacteria growing plaque on the teeth and the coconut oil is loved by dogs, and acts as a gentle natural antibacterial toothpaste
  

  Note: Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties. However it won’t clean below the gumline or replace proper dental care. It’s not strong enough to treat periodontal disease or major infections and it won’t remove plaque or tartar already stuck to teeth but can help mildly.

• Avoid kibble heavy diets - as kibble contains starches and carbohydrates that bacteria feed on, creating plaque and tartar buildup

• Try dental treats that are tough and takes your dog time to get through as this will assist with the natural brushing

 

How do I clean my dog’s teeth at home?

Nothing aside from a professional clean will remove that yellow/ browny/ green, bacteria filled tartar, unfortunately. So even if your cavoodle is presenting with mild discoloration, get that removed asap, then the maintenance program at home can begin.

As we mentioned above, coconut oil and gauze is the easiest and cheapest options, using your pinky finger, wrap the gauze around the pinky and cover it it coconut oil  and yes it can be the same coconut oil you have in the pantry for $10 from Woolies!

Those rear molars are the most notorious so try slide as far back as you can into your puppies mouth to get the plaque off.

What is the process to get a professional clean if they don’t go to the vet and do it the traditional way and they use someone like you?

Toof’s Anaesthesia-Free option keeps the dog in a healthy environment and the pawrents anxiety at bay, with a full scale clean that requires no down time or after-care, your best friend is back to normal and a brand new dog with fresh breath and that horrible yucky feeling of food stuck on their teeth, all gone

We do this by hand scaling the teeth in a safe way. The entire treatment itself takes approx 90 mins, depending on the condition of the teeth.

If you are looking for a safe, calmer option for teeth cleaning for your Cavoodle, we suggest you reach out to Toof HERE.

Toof services are currently available in Sydney and Melbourne with the hope of opening more locations soon. 

For our MyCavoodle community, use this MYCAV when you book to get $50 off your first full-scale clean.