Dental Question Old Age Issues

Becky

I rescued an old beagle (10-13) years old. The vet said her teeth were horrible--three have to come out. However, he said her chewing teeth were still good so told me to give her some dry food on top of wet I have been giving her. Not sure why--maybe to clean teeth a bit? Anyway, he took bloodwork and said he would not do surgery till Oct. because of hot weather and also he wanted her to be adjusted to new home. My question : Is there anything I can do now to clean them a bit to get rid of really bad breath? She won't eat chew bones or hard treats.

I also saw the thread about spaying an old lady. I am scared of that infection they can get when they are in heat. He said we would decide in October. I guess he plans on doing both at the same time which also scares me. But it scares me to think about her being put under twice also. The vet that checked her before my vet said she had had pups four months before. My vet said that he didn't understand how they knew that. Anyway, when do I have to worry about those heat cycles--will I make it till October. I have never had a dog that wasn't spayed so I am completely ignorant of the cycles.

He told me to watch carefullly this discharge she is having from her rectum or vagina-I don't know which and he didn't say. I asked him what to do and he said watch it and especially let him know if it has a bad odor.


Thanks for any info.

Curbside Prophet

For her teeth I recommend this product. My grandmother had great success with her dog so I do recommend it. It will require you to apply the gel daily until you have the desired effect. It also requires your dog to allow you to stick your fingers in her mouth.

As for the heat cycles, the period between cycles can vary, and are typically every 5-8 months. Assuming the dog had a cycle in March, it's possible she'll make it to October.

Patt

Thank you for rescuing this little gal. BTW what is her name?

I'm puzzled as to why your vet is waiting to spay and dental. You said b/c of the weather, how hot is it? We have temps in the 3 digits and they do spays with no problems. As for a new dog, my vet does rescue dogs all the time for foster homes and just before they go to a new home. As long as blood work has been done before hand I wouldn't worry too much about the surgery. However, there are no guarantees with any surgical procedure. Sounds like your vet might be concerned with the discharge possibly being Pyometra, here is a link http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/pyometra.html and that is something I would worry about.

I've had dogs and cats as old as 14yrs have dentals with no problems. I would have both procedures done at the same time, as you said you don't want to put her under twice. If she is having problems with her teeth perhaps she should have a round of antibiotics. I know I had a very old dog and we did antibiotics every so often b/c he could not be put under for dental work.

If you are not comfortable with this vet and his diagnosis, you might seek a second opinion.

Good luck and please keep us updated.

Becky

Thank you both for your advice. I am going to carefully watch that discharge. When I check in for results of bloodwork on Monday, I will ask him about that pyometra. I am also going to ask him about why he wants to wait to do the surgery. He said it was because of weather, but we have had a pretty mild summer-80's with the exception of a few days. I agree with him she needs a few weeks to settle in--I have had her for one week. But to wait till Oct. seems to increase chances of bad things happening.

Her name is Maggie May from the Rod STewart song--song was about an older woman for those of you who are younger than me which is probably everyone. She was found wandering in rural NC. The lady that took her in tried the rescues and humane society. But rescues couldn't take her and h.s. was going to euthanize her because she was old. I couldn't take it and we flew her to the midwest where I live. She made the five hour flight just great. (although I have no idea what happened with her two hour layover in Atlanta, nor do I want to know)She is a sweet old soul with a loud bark.

I was the poster who lost the one I loved most in the world earlier this spring. My dog who was just 7 had moderate arthrits which I thought was getting worse. I called the vet late at night when she seemed to be having a lot of pain who prescribed aspirin. As much as I have been able to tell, she had a severe reaction either to aspirin or something else and went into an autoimmiune crisis. I look back now and and can see there were signs of the crisis coming on that I thought was stiffness from arthritis. When I took her in after the crisis started, it was for breathing problems. Because she had had these all her life, the vet and I neither one suspected anything else. If I had given him all the information I had, he might have saved her.

The rescue dog's picture was put on a grief site that I posted on. I have no idea why I said I would take her except that I didn't want her to die for no reason. She was not taken for any kind of replacement or to make me happy. I just want to give her some happiness after she has spent her life being a puppy machine.

Sorry to ramble, but I am talking to vet again next week about this discharge and delay in surgery.

Thanks for listening.

alphadoginthehouse

You are a very kind person to take in this old girl. I know her life, however much longer she has, will be much better because of you. Keep us posted on how she does and what the vet says about waiting so long.