Teeth Cleaning / May Lose Teeth

Teeth Cleaning/May Lose Teeth

Dog do fine with fewer teeth...I have even had 2 senior rescues who had no teeth left at all and were totally happy campers. The only thing the "no-toofers" couldn't do was have hard cookies or chews. They could swallow tiny kibbles whole, or for larger kibbles you just soak them overnight and mash them...and they do fine lapping up soft canned food. And fewer teeth is far better than painful ones. If you have ever had a rotten tooth you know how horrific the pain can be.

Also, bad teeth are not just a concern for pain and nasty smelling breath...the bacteria from rotten teeth can get into the blood stream and infect organs, especially the heart (infective endocarditis). I would never hesitate to have bad teeth removed unless in a situation where the little dog was so old and had other health issues that made being put under too dangerous.

With a serious dental our vet always recommends antibiotics started a couple of days prior to the dental work and for a week afterward to combat the bacteria that dental work "lets loose" into the dog's system.

Trini
 
I have 3 seniors. I lost 11 teeth the last dental (and I'd been having regular dentals done!), the other 8 teeth...and I think the 3rd lost maybe 3. All eat just fine. They eat dry kibble, soaked kibble, canned food, canned chicken, treats....anything that you can think of. lol

And I think they all felt better after a few days too. Not that they showed any sign of pain beforehand. *sigh* Shelties. So stoic.
 
To put it into perspective....consider if you had a rotten tooth. It would hurt yes? If it could not be repaired (I don't think I have heard about fillings for dogs????), then your dentist would pull it

Same for your dog! Otherwise, you have a dog in pain. Get it done.

Depending on how many teeth are impacted, you may have to soften the diet a little.

And then get on regime of preserving the remaining teeth. That means regular scaling, teeth brushing, adding additives to the water perhaps to loosen tartar, and lots of chews to scrape it off.

Shelties are notorious for having bad teeth. I don't know why particularly why, but it is pretty common.

Best of luck to you!
 
Just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting I wasn't going to have the teeth cleaning done. The appointment is already made. I realize it's probably better than the alternatives. I'm just kinda wanting to know what I'm getting into and get some reassurance that he's still going to be able to eat.

Honestly, I suspect he'll be able to eat just fine. If I have to soften his diet, that's not a big deal. He prefers the taste of moist food, but we've never let him have much because his teeth were in such bad shape when we got him.

Regardless, he's still our old boy. so we'll figure it out with him.

Edit:
His groomer thinks he can go through a teeth cleaning without losing teeth. They brush his teeth as part of the service, so they've probably seen more of his mouth than they want to. Not taking it as anything more than one person's opinion, but it is somewhat reassuring.
 
Teeth cleaning is scheduled for Tuesday, so, if anyone has any advice to add, now's the time. Vet doesn't feel he'll lose a lot of teeth, said we (and Fasb) probably wouldn't even notice.
 
Teeth Cleaning/May Lose Teeth

Our vets always have any doggie facing serious dental work go on antibiotics 2 days prior and 3 days post cleaning/extractions. The bacteria from mouth infection can go into the bloodstream and cause infections elsewhere in the body. If this was a routine, very little tartar, dental antibiotics except at the time of the cleaning might be "overkill".

Best of luck for your little one...I know you will be very thankful when this is done and over with!

Trini
 
trini gilmore said:
Our vets always have any doggie facing serious dental work go on antibiotics 2 days prior and 3 days post cleaning/extractions. The bacteria from mouth infection can go into the bloodstream and cause infections elsewhere in the body. If this was a routine, very little tartar, dental antibiotics except at the time of the cleaning might be "overkill".

Best of luck for your little one...I know you will be very thankful when this is done and over with!

Trini
Click to expand...
Our vet only prescribes antibiotics beforehand if there is some pressing issue - an abscess or similar. Fasb will be put on a course of antibiotics afterwards.

How will he feel afterwards? Will his teeth hurt for awhile in the days after the surgery? Or will he feel pretty good when he wakes up?

Vet seems to feel the anesthesia will be low risk for Fasb? Is this generally the case with teeth cleanings? They'll do blood work beforehand, of course. I kinda feel like this is fairly routine except in the sense that there's always some risk with anesthesia and an older dog.
 
Teeth Cleaning/May Lose Teeth

Fasb's Owner said:
Our vet only prescribes antibiotics beforehand if there is some pressing issue - an abscess or similar. Fasb will be put on a course of antibiotics afterwards.

How will he feel afterwards? Will his teeth hurt for awhile in the days after the surgery? Or will he feel pretty good when he wakes up?

Vet seems to feel the anesthesia will be low risk for Fasb? Is this generally the case with teeth cleanings? They'll do blood work beforehand, of course. I kinda feel like this is fairly routine except in the sense that there's always some risk with anesthesia and an older dog.
Click to expand...

When Mickey had his dental and lost all but 3 teeth, his mouth was tender for about a week post surgery. If all Fasb has done is cleaning or one or two extractions, he shouldn't have much or even any afterwards discomfort...but he may want to snooze a bit more than usual for the next 24 hours. Although there is always a very tiny risk with anesthesia for any age doggie, it is really very very seldom that anything goes wrong. Fasb should do just fine. :)

Trini
 
It seems to have gone fine. Vet had to pull two incisors. I was worried he'd lose a lot more teeth than that. Teeth aren't pearly white, but they're off-white instead of yellowish. Fasb seems to have tolerated the anesthetic well - seems slightly less hyper than usual, and a bit grouchy, but isn't wobbly, lethargic, etc.

Feel bad. Vet instructed me not to feed him this morning, and doesn't want him fed tonight in case he's nauseous. He won't get to eat until breakfast tomorrow.

Right now, biggest worry seems like it will be fleas (I'm always afraid he'll pick up fleas from the vet's office, even though dead of winter is probably the least likely time for that).

What do people here recommend for keeping his teeth fairly clean? He already gets a Greenie bone daily. Rawhide to chew on? I kinda doubt he's going to cooperate and let me brush his teeth regularly.
 
Teeth Cleaning/May Lose teeth

Sounds like all went well. :) If he won't let you actually brush his teeth, try just putting some of the doggie tooth paste on your finger and rubbing it over his teeth...not as effective as actual brushing but the enzyme action will still do some good. The doggie tooth paste comes in poultry and other yummie flavors and my guys think it is a treat.

Trini
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top