Wednesday, June 03, 2009
So....
after the debacle that was taking my dogs to the vet's (about which I'll report more later), I was left with the choice of having Tucker's teeth cleaned by the vet on Monday, or doing nothing and having all his teeth fall out eventually. Why is this such a tough decision? Because Italian Greyhounds are notoriously sensitive to general anesthesia. They have almost no fat on them, so I guess it's difficult for the vets to dose them properly. After some discussion with the veterinarian who'll be doing the procedure, which established that yes, she's well aware of the issue and will closely monitor Tucker, I gave it the green light. Of course, this will not stop me from worrying all day on Monday...until I get that phone call saying he's all right!
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12 comments:
I'll say a prayer for Tucker. It didn't seem to do any harm when Khira was sick.
Thank you so much, Buckskins. I really appreciate it.
Here's hoping all goes well. But don't dwell on it over the weekend, Christina. That's the sort of thing that can well and truly make ya crazy.
I'm trying, Buck. I'm positive things will turn out okay, but I can't quite stifle that tiny little voice at the back of my mind, the one that says: he's gonna die!
Stupid voice!
aw, don't worry, honey. I know the vet is sensible and will keep a close eye on things. Your baby's gonna be alright. :)
Thanks, Phlegmmy! :)
If I were in your shoes, I would not opt for the cleaning, regardless of whether the vet is "aware" of anesthesia being an issue in Greyhounds or not.
Instead, feed a raw chicken neck along with their kibble at least twice a week. You will see a HUGE difference in the cleanliness of their teeth within 3 months.
My dogs are aged 7 and 5, respectively. I've had Abby since age 3 and have NEVER had to get her teeth cleaned - but they're sparkling white with no plaque. Ronja is 5 and we're working off a lifetime of neglect, but her teeth are already looking lovely with the chicken neck additive.
Another thing to consider is what you feed. Do you do dry kibble, canned food, or dry kibble mixed with canned? The softer the food, the less it cleans the teeth as they eat.
M*G, Tucker has had issues with his teeth since his adult teeth came in. His enamel just wore away, either from having had distemper as a puppy before I got him, or due to malnourishment of his mother during pregnancy. Strangely enough, his breeder never answered my emails about it...
So he's predisposed to tooth decay. I feed them kibble, and they do get beef soup bones to gnaw on. Harley also has tartar, but he doesn't have the issues Tucker has. I try to brush their teeth regularly, but obviously it hasn't made much of a difference, if any.
I'll definitely try the raw chicken neck thing, I know they love bones, so that won't be an issue! Thanks for your advice, Mauser*Girl, I appreciate it!
Hope your wee baby is alright!
Thanks, Roismhaire!
You'll want to be careful with the soup stock bones, as those are leg bones (weight bearing bones), which are much denser than other bones, such as necks, ribs, etc. These denser bones can actually damage teeth, even if the gnawing is supervised - heavy chewers have been known to break teeth on them or chip pieces off either the teeth or the bone.
Brushing the teeth, in my experience, makes no difference at all. Except in your wallet.
Oh, thanks, M*G! I didn't know that about the bones. My local grocery store doesn't carry chicken neck bones, I'll have to try to find them elsewhere.
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