My dog survived her operation! I’m picking her up in half an hour. It was a minor op (as ops go, but they all have some risk) but she is nine years old & the older they get the riskier it is. She had a very infected canine tooth that was loose, they had to take it out (look after their teeth, the gum infection can cause heart disease as the toxins from that area drain back in very close to the heart - if that’s wrong, I’m sure Michi can correct me - sorry to pester you Michi).
Anyway, she has lost a lot of teeth in her life - her canines were the only ones left - and the vet just said that they had to take the rest out too! Apparently,if she bleeds from her nose when she sneezes, I’m not to worry because the canine teeth are so deeply rooted that they go through to the sinus cavity! Ouch! Glad human ones don’t do they as they removed my fangs when I was 12… I’m going to have one very gummy, sorry for herself, little dog when I get her home!
I’m glad to hear that Lucy came out ok. I have dogs, and I can imagine how attached you must be to your fur kids. I decided to try and occassionally brush my dogs’ teeth simply because of the problem with tooth decay and bacteria toxins.
My oldest dog, Grizzly (he’s 12 1/2) had a huge bulge on his side last year. I figured that was it. He’s leaving me. His liver is shot. Well, I found out that he had a splenic hematoma - basically a big (10 pounds) bag of blood attached to his spleen. I was so worried when he went in for surgery. I took a sick day from work! I was very relieved to find out he was ok, so I know how you feel.
I also asked my vet if I could see it. Yeesh! He brings in this stainless steel bucket with something the size of a small kickball, complete with a slice of spleen attached. OK, maybe more than you needed to read. Anyway, give Lucy a scratch on the neck for me!
(your dogs are cute, and obviously Val has good taste in ice cream)
Yay for fierra’s dog!! (What’s her name, BTW?) My dog is getting vewy vewy old and can hardly get up the stairs anymore. Oh how I dread the inevitable…
Good news, fierra! You are correct about gum infections traveling to the heart – that’s what killed our sweet springer spaniel Miss Emily. We didn’t know what was happening until it was too late. She was getting old and had health problems that probably weakened her resistance. Didn’t make it any easier to lose her.
Give Lucy an extra hug from me. Coincidentally, I’ll be picking up Emily’s successor Miss Phyllis from the vet later today – she’s getting spayed. “You’ll have to keep her from running and jumping for a week until we take the stitches out” – easy for him to say!
Glad to hear everything turned out well for your pooch. I have stressed the importance of pets needing dentals in the past, because clean teeth really is very important in keeping a pet healthy. Unfortunately, many people view dentals for pets just another way for vets to take your money.
And pets with no teeth really do just find with about any kind of food. You can moisten some dry stuff if you want, but many pets will happily gum away at their food as if nothing is wrong. Do whatever your vet says is best.
Sea Sloth - it’s Lucy.
Michi - thanks. Lucy is the only one of my 3 cavaliers taht isn’t particularly interested in bones/chews (dog biscuits are a different matter) & of course, as time has gone on & she has lost more teeth, she gets less interested in them…
She is fine, doesn’t look pushed in & gummy, but she did totally ignore me at the surgery when I went to pick her up. Walked past me within inches several times, going from nurse to nurse for fuss, making it very clearshe wasn’t impressed with me!
She’s already eating well despite her mouth still being sore, I’m sure she’ll be fine. My nan used to eat apples without her false teeth in (& without cutting it up in advance…), so Lucy should cope well.
