As you all know Sam had to go to the Emergency Vet a couple weeks ago due to a loose tooth, well yesterday I took him to see Dr Cindy and he is going in on Tuesday for a cleaning and most likely several extractions. It seems Sam's teeth are the type that attract more bad bacteria than most dogs and coupled with the fact he likes to eat dust bunnies and cat fur his teeth are a mess. He eats all dry food, but apparently he doesn't chew, never has, his food. And bones are out of the question totally. After his last dental 2 years ago we tried everything to keep his teeth clean, but unfortunately they are the type that just won't cooperate.
Clarese mentioned something awhile back about her dog eating blankies, well that's Sam. Except that Sam eats kitty fur and dust bunnies. When I am able to open his mouth it looks like his gums are rotten, but if you look close enough it's just the fuzz accumulated on his front jaw. And being the uncooperative dog he is when it comes to his mouth I have to be very careful about when I try to pry the fuzz off. Luckily the kitties aren't shedding now and we have a new vacuum that help to stop the food source.
So please keep Sam in your thoughts on Tuesday - although he is in good health he is 16 years old and I'm worried.
PS Watch out for those tempting fuzzy treats furkids they do more harm than good .
Will be sending big time rays and prayers Tuesday morning for our Sam - always scary when they have to go under........Stay away from those dust bunnies sweet boy !
Sending rays from San Diego! It is so scary when the get older but I'm sure he will do great!
Dust bunnies and cat fur?!?! YUM! Sending lots of rays from Oklahoma straight to Sam!
Rays are coming Sam's way from Washington State!
74 :pray: :pray: PRAYERS FOR SAM ARE ON THE WAY....HOPE HE DOESN'T HAVE TOO MANY TEETH EXTRACTED.....
Sending HHHHH's & PPPP's that all goes well with the dental on Tues. and hopefully he won't lose too many. It is so worrying when they get older and have to be put under for work. You will all be inour thoughts and prayers.
Merion & the ZZ's
Prayers and rays coming to Sam from sunny Florida!
Sam, Brekke says to kwit eating the fuzzies and concentrate on food and treats, only! We are sending rays for his pre and post op condition! :bandaid: :pray: :heart:
Max had a major dental at age 16. They took out almost all of his front teeth, leaving only two on top and two on the bottom, so he kind of looked like a rabbit. Max did pull through with flying colors. The first day was definitely the roughest and then I worried if I made the right decision. By three days after the surgery, Max had a lot more pep in his step than he had previously...no doubt the bad teeth and gums were bothering him and once they were extracted and the pain from the surgery went away, he felt a lot better.
The blanket eating was something Rudy did. I am told that this behavior occurs when a pup is weaned too early from its mother. Max didn't do this, but he did have the bad teeth. Even though him and Rudy received equal dental care, Rudy's teeth and gums were far more durable than Max's. Rudy was 10 when he needed his first dental. Max had turned 4 when he had his first. I see similar issues with Zora and Zeke. Even though they are half-siblings and should be very similar, Zora's teeth are much harder to keep clean than Zeke's.
Sending rays Senior Sam's way. It sounds like Sam is following a similar track that Max did in his later years.
Any news on Sam yet? Enquiring minds want to know! Brekke sez "woof" to the boys and kitty.
Willy and Alex had dentals last week, and did great. No extractions or anything, just nice pearly whites and great breath. I hope Sam has an easy time of it, too.
How is Sam doing??
Marcia here Sorry I'm so late in responding, but it's been a hectic day. Sam is spending the night at Camp Rakestraw(that's what I call Dr Cindy's clinic) and will be home tomorrow. I dropped him off this morning and Eddie has been my shadow ever since I got home. I called Dr Cindy about 3:30 and she said she had to extract a few of his front teeth mainly because all the dust bunnies he had consumed had affect both his teeth and gums and they bled a lot. The good news is that his back teeth were in better shape and didn't have to be extracted. I get to pick him up early tomorrow afternoon after work.
Will write more tomorrow when he comes home.
Yeah for Sam! Glad to hear that it went fine! Eggies for Sam!! :hello2:
:hello2: Wonderful news for Sam.....Yes, eggies all around...
Eggies for Sam - woo hoo !!! Eddie should get some too :thumb:
Glad Sam is done with that and will be home soon !
I brought Sam home about half an hour ago and he is sleeping peacefully. Dr Cindy had to extract 7 teeth, less than I expected. It seems that the dust bunnies and hair he loves to eat was so compacted around and under his teeth that it irritated the gums and caused the teeth to loosen. thankfully his molars and canines were saved. He is on antibiotics and soft food for the next week, but no eggies since I don't eat eggs, but he will get all the Chicken Soup Senior type he can eatt.
And Eddie is so glad to have Sam home, but all Sam wants to do is cuddle with me.
So glad to hear that Sam did well with his dental. :apls: :apls: :apls: :apls:
I'm so glad he is home and doing well!! Rays headed his way for a speedy recovery :bandaid:
I'm glad this is over by the time I read about it and Sam is OK! :thumb: I have never heard of a doxie with a taste for dust bunnies, funny boy. Glad he got to keep more teeth than you thought! I'll bet Eddie was glad to see his brother home again too.
Final update. Sam is back to his old self. He loves the fact he gets a wet food diet now, but every day I ad a few bits of kibble to it to get him use to dry food again. Last night we were sitting watching television and I was eating Fritos and whi climbs into my lap for a taste? Sam, he hasn't done that in a long while so I guess he is feeling better.
Thanks for all the rays and prayers. Sam sends slurpy kisses to all.
Goodness me, I thought I had responded to this, but apparently I hadn't. Sorry Sam and Marcia. I'm glad Sam got through his dental fine. He's really getting up there in senior wiener territory. When they're elderly, we all worry. Glad things came out nicely.