Dog's had teeth out!

booter

Hi all. I'm gutted. To tell the tale, (without wishing to bore!) I rescued a Yorkie a few years ago. He had bad plaque/tartar on his teeth resulting in very smelly breath. He also had one of his pre-molars grown in the wrong way round (side to side, instead of back to front IYKWIM). On each trip to the vets for boosters/worming etc I've raised the issue of his teeth and the vet told me they could scale & polish his teeth (for an extortionate amount of money), but unless they were giving him problems, just to alter his diet, brush regularly and give him rawhide chews/dentastix etc. This worked a little in removing some of the tartar, but he still had very smelly breath. They did not appear to be giving him any problems - he was still eating and chewing OK, playing with tug toys etc.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, just before Xmas, he slipped on the ice and banged his mouth into a step. Initially all was OK - his mouth bled a little, but quickly stopped and I couldn't see any damage. However, on brushing I found that a couple of his teeth were loose at the front. As I am now in the position (unfortunately, or fortunately, whichever way you look at it) to qualify for PDSA treatment, I made an appointment with them. They took a look at his teeth and discovered that the dodgy pre-molar had loads of rot and needed to come out, and that the two loose front ones would have to come out too. They explained that they don't normally do dental work (cleaning & polishing) but as these teeth would have to come out anyway, they'd clean the rest up and check the rest of his teeth while he was under.

So, this was all done on Wednesday. When I picked him up I saw a different vet from the one who did the work, & asked how it all went. They told me there'd been multiple extractions. I asked how many, they said they didn't know. I asked if I could look and they advised me to give him a couple of days to recover a little, then I could have a look.

He really wasn't too good at all (effects of anaesthetic (sp?)) until today. And I've managed to have a look - OMG - he's got no front teeth at all up to his canines! No wonder he wasn't very well!

Anyway, now he's feeling better, he wants to play. However, when he tries to pick up a toy, he can't - he obviously used to pick them up with his front teeth - and it seems to be causing some discomfort (obviously). He also seems to want to eat loads, but again, it seems to be causing him some discomfort (even though at the moment he's on tinned tuna and boiled rice mixed).

I'm feeling very guilty at the moment (the usual "parental" guilt) but also angry with myself and my previous vet for not getting something done sooner (he may or may not have kept more teeth) but also with his previous owner(s) who started the problem in the first place. I'm also very grateful that I'm eligible for PDSA help.

However, I don't know what to do now. Has anyone had any similar experience? Any advice re food/toys or any pointers for the future?



Sorry if this isn't on the correct board - I didn't know where else to put it. Please move if necessary!

Also sorry for the long post - guess I just needed to vent a little!

Tropez

I can't give you any pointers as I have never had to experience this.

However, I don't think you should be feeling guilty. It wasn't your fault and while I understand that qualifying for PDSA help means that things are a little tight at your end, it probably is a fortunate thing as dental work can be very expensive.

Good luck to you and your dog in the future. I hope he makes a full recovery.

Charlie1986

My dog had to have a lot of teeth out a few months ago. At the start he was a bit unsure of things but now knows where to put his food in his mouth to chew it and how to hold his toys to play with them.
He probably has a stronger grip on his toys now as well because he's teeth were loose before and were causing him pain.

angelsmomma

My rescue greyhound had such bad teeth that he had to have them removed. Like you I was shocked that so many had to go. I paid for it and it was over £300. He was left with only 1 at the front (he looks odd but cute) and just a couple at the back. He has managed to adapt and still eats dried food without problems and anything else I give him.

dizziblonde

It happens to lots of dogs (and my cat's got half of one of her front teeth cracked off from her time running feral before we got her) - dog next door to us when I was a kid had to have most of hers taken out at one point... she was more annoyed when our cats sussed out what had gone on and sat on her garden wall doing what can only be described as blatantly playing "mock the dog"

Penda

We had a problem with our Yorkie she had rotten teeth not from anything we gave her but she always had the knack of finding discarded/dropped sweets or chocolate anywhere we walked, In the end her breath was unpleasant and the vet removed all her teeth she was 12 yrs although for a few days she only ate soft food she soon could eat anything even had a good go at a bone that she took of my other dog, she never gave up on her finds when out walking though.

scaredy_cat

your dogs gums will soon harden up and they will have no problem in playing, picking things up or eating. Having so many teeth out will be a bit strange as he is used to eating with teeth, but now he will have to get used to eating without them.

if you have had a tooth extracted you will know that it feels weird for a while before you get used to the space it creates.

booter

Thank you all for your replies. I'm more reassured now that in time he'll cope OK - thankyou!

I have managed to scrape together a donation for the PDSA - they provide a "receipt" to show how much the work would have cost - £190 ish at the moment - but all I can manage for now is £40. However, I've told them that if I win the lottery/find a job, then I'll donate more!

dizziblonde - "mock the dog" seems to be a favourite cat recreational pursuit round here, and probably more so from now on!

Once again, thank you for all your replies.

Mankysteve

Our old ginger tom had few teeth left when we had him PTS(unrelated). He was like that for a few years ONly problem was the mess he made eating but besides that he was happy as larry.

bethie

your doggie should be fine, and will probably act chirpier than he used too!


our rescue cat went in for a scale/polish and possible molar extraction, and came out with just his canines and corncob teeth in the front!

made no difference to his eating (think he even ate the dry food better!), and he was more playful.


its been 3? years now and his teeth (remaining ones) are doing great!

booter

Just wanted to do a quick update for anyone who's interested!

The dog's doing great - he's totally over the effects of the anaesthetic and extractions and running around like a loony. He looks a little funny - he does a great Elvis impersonation with his top lip - but he's eating better than he was before (probably not surprising!) and plays with his toys (now he's discovered how to pick them up without his front teeth).

What's even better is I don't retch every time he breathes on me - his breath is just the normal "dog breath" not "howling halitosis". So, the vet says to leave it another week before starting to brush. Now that really will be interesting....!

I did notice that the PDSA seemed quite surprised (pleasantly) at the amount I've donated - I managed to scrape together £55 all told - apparently, a proportion of "customers" either donate nothing at all or only £5 (as the smallest denomination of note).

Anyway, thanks to all for the reassurance, and thanks to the PDSA for their help - I don't know how I'd have afforded it otherwise!