Smudge is having dental surgery today :-(
9 years ago
Please share some good thoughts for our Smudge. He's our 16-yr old Maine Coon and he's in for dental surgery today. He's getting 7 molars removed. The vet is thrilled with his condition.....good muscle mass, steady heart rate, kidneys and liver are good, so he's a good candidate for anesthetic, but......he's still 16.
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Anyone have dental implants?
Comments (23)Thanks for the input all. Believe me, I have not come to these conclusions all by myself. This has been an ongoing situation. I have consulted with both my dentist and the oral surgeon/implant, periodontist. At this time last year, they were considering extracting 4 teeth and doing implants. (easy for them to suggest!!!) I decided to put it on hold (maybe hoping I would just let one fall out at a time - lol) Now, this month, it is found that a 5th tooth is 'in line' and possibly a 6th! That's one heck of a lot of extractions at one time, to say nothing of the bone grafts (and healing). I might be flippant and think of it as my own personal weight-loss plan, but when I add up the $$$$ (especially at my 'Sr. Saver' age, I have to wonder if it's all worth it, when a partial for both top and bottom would amount to that of ONE implant. DH says I'm worth it; I tend to be more frugal and would not look forward to the discomfort and constant re-appointments waiting to finally be done. Not to mention that with all that being done....it just may not 'take'. During all of this, my only 'comfort' would be smoking and drinking (Pepsi) and then to completely change not only my mouth, but my lifestyle!!!! Partials - or complete dentures - might be the eventual answer....See MoreMy pup is having dental surgery today
Comments (22)socks -- Thanks for the great photo of Oski. He's lucky to have you. I'm sure he will be FINE once the sedation wears off. As you know, we've had four Westies (one at a time) throughout our marriage (50 years). Charlie died of tongue cancer at nine -- I'm certain from a lesion that happened when he saved my diamond ring from going down the drain during a bath -- and urrped up two weeks later. The resulting lesion was only discovered when I took him in for dental work years later. Rosie came to us too old to take to training. She was an escape artist and was eventually killed on a highway between our house and a shopping mall as we chased after her. Pip was the prize winner in conformation, and as loving as Charlie. We spent a fortune on his skin troubles, but he finally grew out of them at about ten and lived well (deaf and blind) until just before his 17th birthday. Eliot was from Westie Rescue, not entirely Westie as he *shed*. He had an acid stomach, requiring special canned food for the last five years or so. He developed bleeding warts; was deaf and going blind. We coped until he seemed to become senile and incontinent. He was a loving companion until we had to put him down this spring at 15. His constant 'chewie' was a chip from our bluestone-chip driveway. Any stone I accidentally sucked up into the central vac was immediately replaced by him on the next walk. He'd crunch on this and toss it around in his mouth. An acquired 'taste', eh? I think we are done now, but it's kind of you to 'share' Oski. Westies are cute...and tough! Sending a tummy-rub to you, Oski!...See MoreHave you heard of putting down a deposit before having surgery done?
Comments (45)I stand by my earlier complaint while also acknowledging what sleeperblues said. It is indeed a sad fact that for many people, when money gets tight, medical bills get pushed to the back of the line and frequently don't get paid at all. Unfortunately, those doctors still have a practice to run and employees they must pay, regardless of whether someone has paid their bill or not. I suppose I pine for "the old days" myself. For the majority of my adult life, we lived paycheck to paycheck. We could budget to pay you in installments but we just didn't have a lump sum to give you upfront to pay in advance. Hubby and I have managed, over the past 10 years, to work our way out of that lower class (paycheck to paycheck) predicament into a solidly middle class status. Before that, it was (largely) an honor system. We promised we would pay what we could, when we could, until the balance was paid; the doctors took us at our word AND we fulfilled our obligation. Unfortunately, too many have gamed the system for too long and now, an increasing number of doctors and facilities require full upfront payment. Luckily for me, I've established a rapport with my regular physicians and dentists and they KNOW I'm "good for it" and they allow me to get needed services and pay out over time if I need to. I worry for my children though. It has taken years of seeing the same practitioners before we reached a comfortable spot that I could get what I need and they know I won't shaft them. What will my kids do in 15 years if they are just starting out and can't afford 1000 upfront for, say a root canal and crown?...See MoreDog dentist vs dental work at vets office? Advice?
Comments (26)Thanks lukkiirish. I got a call from my dog's internist specialist. She was her Dr at an emergency hospital most of last year when she became ill with an autoimmune disease (she was bleeding out and her platelets were near zero). Anyway the internist is up to date with her recovery and her blood work results. She said that a tooth root abscess isn't really an elective surgery and it needs to be done. She is confident that anesthesia will not be a problem for her in regards to her health, age or previous illness last year. Her blood work has been very good and she said to get it done. I feel better hearing that from her (a little!). I haven't been able to find much of anything on dogs who opted not to get a tooth extraction after a abscess but like socks mentioned of her sisters dog having to be on antibiotics schedule... which I don't want to have to do as I know it can be hard on the body. So as of now, it looks like she will do the extraction. Still have time so I'll monitor how she is feeling. The estimate was between $2500-3100. It's weird though because the swelling hasn't returned and she seems fine. She hasn't been wanting to go on our usual long walks lately but that might be the heat. When you have a older dog, you worry about every little thing!!!...See More- 9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
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He's home and happy and ate some soft food. I have some pain meds that I rub onto his ear (so much nicer than pills). I'll take him back in a couple of weeks for a follow up. They also want me to apply some mouthwash type stuff to his teeth starting in a couple of weeks. A maintenance regime. I'll find some makeup applicators to apply it, instead of using a syringe type thing.
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