22/05/2026
A closer look at Dewie’s recent dental procedure with Emily Sabin, Veterinary Surgeon and Director here at All Pets 🦷🐾
Dewie came in to have two retained deciduous canines removed - in other words, two baby teeth that hadn’t fallen out as they should have.
As Emily explains in the video, retained baby teeth can cause a few problems. They can affect how the adult teeth erupt, interfere with the way the teeth and jaw sit together, and create tight little spaces where plaque and tartar can build up - increasing the risk of periodontal disease.
Before the procedure began, Dewie was given his pre-medication to help him feel calm and sleepy, alongside pain relief, anti-sickness medication and sedative drugs. Chloe helped with Dewie’s anaesthetic, while the team used flow-by oxygen, warming blankets and little socks to help maintain his body temperature while his intravenous cannula was placed.
Once Dewie was nice and settled, Chloe and Sue attached his monitoring equipment, including ECG, blood pressure monitoring and a temperature probe, so the team could keep a close eye on him throughout.
Emily then carried out a full check of Dewie’s mouth before placing his endotracheal tube and fully anaesthetising him. She checked his bite, his dental occlusion, and counted his teeth to make sure everything else looked as it should. Thankfully, Dewie’s adult teeth were sitting nicely - but those two extra baby canines were creating exactly the kind of plaque-trapping spaces we worry about.
To keep him comfortable, Emily performed local anaesthetic nerve blocks - just like you might have at the dentist - so Dewie’s mouth was numb during and after the procedure.
The baby canines were then carefully removed. As Emily shows, these teeth can have very long roots, which means they need to be gently elevated and coaxed out to avoid the root snapping. Dental X-rays were taken before and after, allowing Emily to confirm the full teeth and roots had been successfully removed before closing the gum flaps with stitches.
Dewie recovered well from his anaesthetic, with nerve blocks and pain relief on board to keep him comfortable as he woke up.
A brilliant little case to show why pet dentistry is about so much more than “just teeth” - it’s about comfort, prevention, careful monitoring, and making sure our patients can get back to feeling their best.
Well done, Dewie. A very brave boy with a beautifully sorted smile.