Tooth extractions - old dog :(

booter

I posted 5 years ago about my poor boy having to have teeth out. (Anyone who's interested, the thread's here )
Sadly, he's just had to have almost all of his remaining teeth out (he's got 2 left at the top and 3 at the bottom, with just one canine left). This is despite me brushing twice a week, using Logic gel, Plaqueoff, water additives etc etc. I don't know how much I've spent over the last 5 years on teeth related products, but it all seems to have been money down the drain
So, despite every year (at booster/check up time) the vet saying that his teeth aren't too bad (for a Yorkie), this year, they tell me he needs some work doing, and it's possibly just the tartar/plaque holding the teeth in.
He's suffering just now (1 day after surgery) - his gums have a couple of stitches in them and so are obviously giving him some pain, and he's that little bit older, so seems to be taking longer to come round from the anaesthetic He's not interested in anything and won't leave my side. I just want him back to his normal self.

So, an advisory - if you're looking to get a Yorkie (or Greyhound - apparently they have teeth problems too according to the vet) be prepared for rotten teeth and dental bills. And don't waste money on products that don't work! The bill should have been £294, but my vets had a special offer on scale & polish, so it reduced it by £99 (thank goodness!).

Person_one

Unfortunately all small dogs are a bit prone to dental issues.

I hope your boy is feeling better soon, and don't regret all the care you gave for his teeth, you may well have bought him more time and saved him discomfort over the years.

teddysmum

Three of my four cavaliers have had dental problems, the exception being the big boy, who had a long muzzle.


Izzy had to have regular vet dentals as no matter what, he got messy teeth and the vet said that some are just like that, because of body chemistry.


The present two have lost a lot of teeth (It seems that cavaliers incisors have shallow roots), but Teddy's teeth(even ones which look healthy) have just fallen out, whereas Joly had to have a GA.


Teddy has three canines and a couple of back teeth (no matched pairs), while Joly only has two canines and a couple of back teeth,again no pairs, but both manage food ok, though they can't chew fish skins anymore; a pity as they are good tooth cleaners.


Mine have always been slow coming out of GA, needing at least 24 hours to be fully normal.

booter

Thanks both for your comments - it's nice to have some reassurances He just seems so much more "wobbly" this time and now he doesn't want to eat or drink

It's obvious that he's got some pain inside his mouth - he tilts his head to one side and looks like he's trying to yawn (but he doesn't) and then comes to me as if to say "do something Mum" (I know, I know!) but I feel so helpless! He did eat a little earlier (12 ish) which I was pleased about as it meant I could give him his painkiller (Onsior) and antibiotic, but it's like he's realised that it hurts so won't do it again

*Sigh* - I realise that I've got to be patient, but it's so hard to see them not their normal self (he's usually so full of beans!) and I'm a total worry wort

owlet

Sorry to hear of your old boy's problems. Mine wouldn't drink after her anaesthetic so I chopped a chicken breast and simmered it in water for about 15 min - then used the broth (once cool) to entice her to drink. I had to dip my fingers in & put them to her mouth but once she got the flavour of chicken she drank it herself.
That's worked well after both her anaesthetics.

I then used the chicken with some well cooked rice (nice and soft) for her dinner once she was ready to eat.

Hope he picks up ok x

booter

Well, still not much better today, and he still won't eat properly He's drinking a little water, but with some discomfort. I've just managed to soak a couple of rich tea biscuits in warm water and he's had them - I was thinking that at least I can give him the painkiller & antibiotic, but he's having none of it. I've tried all the usual (chicken, tuna, cheese spread, cheese, ham, and more softened rich tea) to try and disguise the tablets, but with no joy. I tried opening his mouth to pop the antibiotic in, but it obviously hurts if I hold his mouth closed (I tried ) so just spits it out and won't swallow it. Help! Does anyone have any suggestions?

(The only result of my efforts is he's now got a biscuity beard - that's gonna look good when he returns to the vets this evening :cool: )

Person_one

Give the vet a ring, they might be able to give you some analgesia and antibiotic in liquid form that would be easier to get in him, they might bring you in just to check everything looks ok and could maybe give him an injection even.

Apart from the meds issue, I wouldn't worry too much about him not eating right now. A few days won't do any harm, and its pretty normal for humans not to have much appetite after dental/facial surgery so probably the same for dogs! He won't starve.

booter

Thanks Person_one - he does have an appointment later this evening, so I'll see what they say. Trouble is, I know he'd feel more like eating if it didn't hurt so much, (i.e.if he had the painkiller) but he has to have the painkiller with or after food. Catch 22 eh?! So I'm not worried about him starving as such, just about being in pain and preventing infection

Person_one

Good, hopefully you can get some reassurance and some meds in him one way or another this evening then.

teddysmum

When mine have had dental's the vet suggested a light soft meal, such as scrambled egg, but they were quite happy to eat the usual tinned, swallowing biscuit, so no need to chew.


I have one who will happily swallow nice tasting tablets, but for the one who won't I use pate ( supermarket cheapie). If you roll it into a ball,it becomes slippery in the mouth and slides down the throat. The smell may also disguise the scent of the drug.

booter

teddysmum wrote: »

When mine have had dental's the vet suggested a light soft meal, such as scrambled egg, but they were quite happy to eat the usual tinned, swallowing biscuit, so no need to chew.


I have one who will happily swallow nice tasting tablets, but for the one who won't I use pate ( supermarket cheapie). If you roll it into a ball,it becomes slippery in the mouth and slides down the throat. The smell may also disguise the scent of the drug.

Sadly, mine's a bit of a finnicky (sp?) eater, possibly as a result of eating only Maccie D's, chips and spaghetti hoops for the first few years of his life (this is what we guess judging by his reaction to those foods!). He won't touch scrambled egg or tinned dog food - we have him on a semi dry complete, which is the only dog food he'll eat. But normally, he'd rip your arm off (well, if he'd got the teeth for it!) for chicken or tuna. I've never tried him with pate - I never buy it cos I can't stand the stuff - but he may well go for it. Thanks for the tip!
Well, I explained how he was to the vet, who gave him a jab of antibiotics to replace the one that dissolved without being eaten, and a jab of the painkiller. (no additional charges) This was at 6.30, and he's now eaten a full meal (rice & tuna) :j I just knew if his pain level was reduced, he'd eat! So I'm very relieved OK, so he's still not his normal self, but I know that's to be expected. And he's now lying beside me, his belly making very strange noises :rotfl:but he's sleeping soundly (he wasn't sleeping "properly" before iyswim). Respite from pain for him and respite from worry for me :j
The vet made another appointment for him tomorrow just to make sure all's going OK. So fingers crossed

From a MSE perspective, I managed to get a look at the billing details on the computer system at the vets. The breakdown was interesting -
Anaesthetic/scale & polish £99 (normal price £200, although as I say, I had a voucher as my local vets were doing a promo
Extractions (including post op meds ) were £94. (The notes indicated that this was charged by time spent doing the extractions, in our case, 20 mins. That's some hourly rate!!)
Painkillers (7 days) £14 (included)
Antibiotics (7 days) £7 (included)
I don't know how this compares to other vets, but thought it may be useful to give others a ballpark figure

Thanks all for the advice/reassurances - much appreciated