Kelly the Culinarian: Get your dog's teeth cleaned!

Monday, July 11, 2016

Get your dog's teeth cleaned!

Bravely boating the high seas ... of a no-wake lake
I thought I was pretty good at the whole adulting thing. I've had Napoleon for seven years and have
run point on grooming, vaccinations, feeding and general pet maintenance. Having a pet is a responsibility and expense, and a privilege earned by keeping up on all the details. Heart worm pills, rabies shots, nail trims and wellness visits are all part of the deal.

At his check up last year, the vet said Napoleon's teeth looked good and he was set. He usually gets them cleaned every other year, augmented by teeth brushing at the groomer. When I took him in last week to get a shot before being boarded, the vet said he needed his teeth cleaned as soon as was convenient.

I made an appointment for the following week and expected a vet bill for the procedure, which is performed under anesthesia, along with maybe one pulled tooth.

Head butting a unicorn
I got a call when Napoleon was still in surgery informing me that his teeth were worse than anticipated.

He would need 11 teeth removed.

FML.

It's been a few days and he's totally fine. Basically all the tiny little teeth in the front are gone. Nothing of substance that will impact his quality of life. Upside: He no longer has stink breath.

In another week, he'll be back to eating his regular food and playing with his normal toys. I know it's very common for little dogs, especially as they get older. But damn do I feel guilty. The vet assures me these things happen and couldn't be helped.

Let this be a costly cautionary tale: get your pet's teeth cleaned regularly. Budget and schedule accordingly.


1 comment:

Maggie W said...

Awww. My new vet told me I should brush Olive's teeth. She and I have made zero progress in that regard. She is not a fan of my trying to open her mouth, let along put anything in there.