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Comment by Cindi on June 14, 2008 at 11:10am

Glad to hear she came through like a trooper! I agree that your dog should have a "check up" just like you would. That may or may not include dental cleaning depending on the condition of the dog's teeth. Our vet does a good physical and recommends anything further with good advice on why or why not to do stuff. Helps to have a really great vet.

Comment by NoClaws4Alarm on June 13, 2008 at 8:43pm

Thanks Aloha :) That will keep me busy for a while!

Update on Sadie... she's home now and groggy as heck because of the pain medication and the antibiotics. What started as a routine cleaning took a bad turn when the techs cleaning her teeth found a cracked molar on the upper right side of her mouth. Apparently she'd bit down on something and cracked the tooth and it was really infected. The vet opted to remove it because in the condition it was in it simply couldn't be saved.

I felt bad because I felt I should have seen it, but he chuckled and said that his techs were halfway through with the cleaning before even THEY discovered it... and that was with a knocked out dog with her mouth wide open. In the position it was in, it was impossible to see any other way. What I did see was the puffy gum, which is what prompted the appointment. He said I did the best I could have possible done...so I felt better.

Poor Sadie. She looks so pathetic. Drugged up and whimpery... but dang...her teeth are pearly white and her gums already look 100 times better...

I know a lot of people rely on brushing alone... but I would like to stress what my vet imparted on me today... dogs are a lot like humans... they need to have a professional look them over once in a while in case there is a hidden problem like we had with our Sadie. A once a year dental is a really GOOD idea... especially as a dog ages. I never realized how serious oral hygiene is to a dog. The problems stemming from gingivitis and infection can affect more than just their teeth and gums... it can cause problems their major organs as well.

This vet visit was expensive. $360 bucks expensive... but when I weigh the possible consequences... it's a drop in the bucket.

My dogs are priceless... (even if the humans will be eating Ramen this week...hehe)

Comment by NoClaws4Alarm on June 13, 2008 at 11:59am

Thanks guys... I don't know.. but I swear these vet visits are harder on me than they are on my "kids".

Aloha, I've heard of giving your dogs this, but I guess it's been so ingrained on my brain not to give certain kinds of bones to dogs for possible choking reasons, that I have just been afraid to do so. Is there any special way I would have to prepare/cut the chicken or turkey parts before giving them to my dogs? Cold? Warm? I know this sounds dumb, but I've never done the raw thing before and I'm really at a loss. Are there any "RAW for dummies" sites? hehe!

Comment by FuzzyButt on June 13, 2008 at 11:48am

Well I know that the older a dog is the better it handles anesthesia. So Sadie really is fine. If she were going through this as a puppy I would be more worried. She'll wake up feeling like she just fell asleep. Her gums may be a bit sensitive after the whole ordeal, but that really is your only concern right now.

You already have all the tools and information to help you take care of Sadie's teeth. You know you have to go a little farther in her mouth, and brush her teeth more often then Rolo. Just that small adjustment should help you.

Comment by Cindi on June 13, 2008 at 10:10am

Well, Mercury may be in retrograde, but Goddess still looks after her furry children! Sending energies your way! As for the teeth, the vet's correct. All dogs are different. But good for you doing the right thing and brushing them!!! That's a constant fight in training classes. I hear, "It's a DOG. I'm not going to brush his teeth. Throw him a biscuit and he'll be fine." Ugh! Makes me want to throttle some folks! LOL CorgiMom and I are using Oral Care, which is a tasteless additive to drinking water. It does a great job with breath and I've noticed the dogs' teeth are better. So, even though dogs need dentals done (and I usually suggest once a year), we've found this keeps them with better dental hygiene.