Teeth cleaning for dogs in Southampton: who offers it and what's involved

Bad breath and a build-up of tartar are common in dogs, and a full descale under anaesthetic at the vet isn't the only option for a mild case. Eight of the twenty-six groomers listed for Southampton, Shirley, Bitterne, Totton, Eastleigh, Hedge End, Romsey and Hythe offer some form of teeth cleaning alongside a groom, several of them using ultrasonic technology rather than a manual brush and scaler.

Who offers it

Trixies Trims in Shirley, run by City & Guilds Level 3 groomer Caroline, lists non-invasive teeth cleaning alongside its usual grooming and washes. Plush Puppies, the purpose-built, cage-free parlour in Bitterne run by Rebecca, includes teeth cleaning in its regular service list. Country Canine Groomers, working from Copied Hall Kennels in Totton with 25 years' experience, offers teeth cleaning alongside dog walking and handmade accessories. Chesters Dog Grooming in Hedge End, run by OCN Level 3 groomer Adrian from The Old Piggery at Lower Grove Farm, specifically names ultrasonic teeth cleaning among its services. Elisha's Pampered Paws in Romsey lists teeth cleaning alongside its one-to-one grooming and spa packages. Forestside Grooming & Dog Wash in Hythe, trading on Long Lane since 2006 under zoology graduate Beth Richmond, offers teeth cleaning alongside its self-service dog wash. Dibden Doggy Grooming, also in Hythe, lists ultrasonic dental cleaning among its one-to-one services. Sniff & Co in Bitterne, founded in 2019 by veterinary nurse Sarah, names ultrasonic teeth cleaning too, though its own site currently states the salon is closed and reopening under new ownership, so confirm it is trading again before you call.

Ultrasonic cleaning versus a manual scale

An ultrasonic tool uses a vibrating tip to loosen and lift plaque and tartar from the tooth surface without the dog needing to be sedated, which is why several groomers offer it as an add-on to a normal groom rather than a standalone dental procedure. It suits a dog with mild to moderate tartar and a temperament calm enough to sit still for it. It isn't a substitute for a vet's full scale and polish under anaesthetic, which reaches under the gumline in a way a groomer's tool cannot, so a dog with heavy tartar, loose teeth or visibly inflamed gums needs a vet appointment rather than a grooming add-on.

What it costs

None of the eight Southampton groomers named above publishes a separate price for teeth cleaning; it sits inside the same price-on-request approach that covers almost this entire directory (see our Southampton dog grooming prices guide for the one figure that is published, Dibden Doggy Grooming's £30 full groom). Ask what the teeth-cleaning add-on costs when you book, and whether it is included in the price of a full groom or charged separately on top.

What to ask before you book

• Whether the cleaning uses an ultrasonic tool or a manual scrape and brush, since the two differ in technique and in what they can reach
• Whether it is included in the price of a full groom or charged as an extra
• How your dog is likely to cope with the noise and vibration of an ultrasonic tool, particularly on a first visit
• Whether the groomer would recommend a vet check first if your dog's teeth or gums already look inflamed or sore

If your dog's teeth need more than a routine clean, your vet remains the right first call rather than any groomer listed here.