So much for non-anesthetic teeth cleaning...

[Phentex]

vet called and said the lab just got tired of having her teeth cleaned so they needed to give her a sedative.

They aren't knocking her out.

She's probably just hungry and I'd get tired too!

We've never had our dogs teeth cleaned before. In all the years and all the dogs, never. Is it worth it?

[Walk away]

1. It depends. What condition are your dog's teeth in?

Is she a small dog that eats a soft diet? A large dog that chews on bones and eats dry food? My Dad's Shepards had beautiful teeth into their old age and never had a cleaning. I brushed my Pomeranian's teeth every day and still had to take him to the dentist once a year.
Bacteria in the mouth can cause heart problems in dogs. Small dogs that live many more years than large ones usually need it the most.

[Phentex]

3. Smallish lab on dry food. She does chew stuff...

but not bones. Usually stuff she isn't supposed to!

[NNN0LHI]

2. Probably can't tell if its really needed or not until after the dog is sedated

Last time we had a dental done on one of our dog we thought her teeth were all in pretty good shape. Turned out that two of them were loose and needed to be pulled. Probably couldn't have found out they were loose and had them pulled before they became infected without sedation.

Don

[Phentex]

4. My other dog is much larger and on the same food...

he's not much of a chewer. His teeth are all fine. I think it may be because he inhales his food.