So I'm trying to work up the nerve to make an appointment for Wally's dental cleaning. This will be the first time he'll undergo anesthesia since I've owned him (he was neutered while in foster care) so I'm just a tad apprehensive. I've been carefully reading the information sheet provided by my vet office which explains the procedure. I also decided to browse online to learn more, and came across the website of a vet office that had the following statement: "We require pre-anesthetic blood screening for all pets undergoing surgical procedures. Chest radiographs are recommended for all pets requiring surgery and are mandatory for any pet greater than 7 years of age." This was interesting to me, as my vet does not require x-rays even for seniors (Wally is 8), and I have not heard anyone mention this before. Just curious, does anyone else's vet do this? What sorts of problems would they be looking for?