Her dog tragically passed away during routine vet checkup — and one split-second choice made her blame herself forever
Many dog owners go to great lengths to give their pets the best life possible, feeding them well, keeping them safe, and offering endless love. But sometimes, even the most routine vet visit can turn into a heartbreaking experience. As reported by HuffPost, Henry Crossetti shared a deeply personal story about losing his beloved dog, Dooley, during what was meant to be a simple check-up.
Crossetti and his wife raised two West Highland white terriers, Duncan and Dooley, with constant love and attention. The dogs were part of every aspect of their lives, from meals and travel to cuddles and companionship. “They ate with us, slept with us, and traveled with us,” he said. His wife even cooked them homemade meals instead of feeding them traditional dog food. But despite his own 40-year career as a dentist, Crossetti admitted he never gave much thought to their dental care. That changed suddenly when a routine cleaning for both dogs turned into tragedy. Duncan was scheduled for a benign cyst removal, and the vet suggested cleaning his teeth while under anesthesia. Dooley, though healthy, was brought in for a cleaning, too. “Both dogs were anesthetized, but Dooley never woke up,” he said.
The loss shook the family deeply. Crossetti’s wife was devastated, blaming herself for agreeing to a non-essential procedure. "My wife couldn’t forgive herself for putting Dooley under anesthesia just to get his teeth cleaned, and we have never gotten over the loss." Their vet was so affected that she decided to stop performing elective cleanings under general anesthesia. Since then, Crossetti has made it a mission to educate others. “Most people aren’t aware that the exact same progression that leads to decay and periodontal disease in humans also happens for dogs,” he explained. Inflammation leads to bleeding gums, foul breath, and eventually loose teeth and abscesses. Left untreated, this can lead to infections that require extractions or even affect a dog’s internal organs, like the kidneys, liver, and heart.
Daily brushing is the best way to prevent these problems, yet only 7% of dog owners brush their dog’s teeth every day, as shared in a report by IPSOS. Crossetti compares skipping this step to not brushing your own teeth for weeks or even years. “Even if your dog’s teeth look healthy, it’s estimated that 80–90% of dogs over the age of 3 are dealing with some form of periodontal disease,” he shared from a report. Preventing that starts with simple habits like using dog-friendly toothpaste, brushing for 30 seconds, and starting slowly if your dog resists, he suggests. Crossetti now brushes the teeth of Bogey, the rescue pup he adopted after Dooley’s passing. He uses a soft finger brush and says it’s become a moment of bonding, not a chore.
The biggest myth, Crossetti warns, is that dental problems are just part of aging. “It doesn’t have to be that way,” he said. Chewing bones doesn’t clean teeth, and dogs’ mouths aren’t cleaner than ours. The lesson Dooley left behind was heartbreaking, but it sparked a message that could help countless pets live longer, healthier lives. As Crossetti urges, “Start cleaning your dog’s teeth early and keep it consistent.”