Teeth Extraction/Cleaning

[ExArkie]

I have an appointment to take my Chihuahua, Pennee, to have her teeth cleaned and some teeth extracted. I had this done a year ago and they pulled 7 teeth.

Now, there are lots more loose teeth - don't exactly know how many. Will she have a problem eating if she has many more teeth extracted? Vet says, "NO, a dog only needs 4 teeth to eat solid food." Has anyone had experience with tooth lose in a K9? :sad:

[ExArkie]

My Pennee came through her teeth cleaning and extraction just fine. She does have a kennel cough, though.:sad:

Vet told me one thing I have never heard before. I was worried that too many teeth were being pulled and that Pennee would not be able to eat regular dog food. The Vet told me that a dog only needs the four K/9 teeth to eat. As long as she has just these four, she can eat just fine. I didn't know that - thought we would have to get dentures!!:w00t::laugh:

[incidentally]

My Pennee came through her teeth cleaning and extraction just fine. She does have a kennel cough, though.: sad:

Vet told me one thing I have never heard before. I was worried that too many teeth were being pulled and that Pennee would not be able to eat regular dog food. The Vet told me that a dog only needs the four K/9 teeth to eat. As long as she has just these four, she can eat just fine. I didn't know that - thought we would have to get dentures!!:w00t::laugh:


:lol:

http://www.thoeledental.com/docpage.cfm?doc_id=183

[ExArkie]

:lol:

http://www.thoeledental.com/docpage.cfm?doc_id=183

My Chihuahua babies have everything else! Why not these?:laugh:

[R~O~S]

My Chihuahua babies have everything else! Why not these?:laugh:

Chihuahua? Somehow I missed that in the OP. I can attest, they only need 4 teeth, if that.

My M-I-L bred chihuahuas back in the day. One, Monkeyface, was still with my DH when we met. Monkeyface was about 18 years old and only had about four teeth left when we met. His little tongue was always sticking out of the side of his little face, because there weren't any teeth to hold it in his mouth, so I was told.

Monkeyface had no difficulty eating and stayed with us a few really good years thereafter. Have no fear, you're furbaby can afford to lose a few more, but let's hope she doesn't. We know better now about diet, tarter removal, brushing if needed so her prospects are good. Obviously you tend to this area of her care.

OTOH, a bad tooth is really really dangerous for a dog, they can't tell us when it hurts and it's usually progressed to an abscess by the time they show physical symptoms.

[frances1]

:lol:

http://www.thoeledental.com/docpage.cfm?doc_id=183

I was just going to ask......what's next???? Cosmetic surgery and dentistry for dogs????

[R~O~S]

I was just going to ask......what's next???? Cosmetic surgery and dentistry for dogs????

A lot of what's considered cosmetic isn't all that cosmetic. If my furbabies needed it, they'd have it.

http://www.idausa.org/facts/cossurgery.html

Tail docking
Ear Cropping
Declawing
& debarking are all considered "cosmetic surgery" for animals.

None of mine have had any of the above. I especially consider debarking cruel. They can be taught not to bark, but it takes some desire to actually put the effort into it. If it's the difference between a dog with a loving home vs a dog given up because of noise complaints, so be it.

But, true cosmetic surgery also has a place, and for valid medical reasons:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6915955/

The most common concerns are skin-fold problems, particularly around the eyes, lips, tail and vaginal area.

“It’s not uncommon to have skin folds surgically reduced in size or eliminated in order to help the animal from chronic discomfort and infection," says Schulman.

[ExArkie]

When my Chihuahua, Pennee, was a puppy (she's 9 now), we noted she had a deformed tail - I asked the Vet if it could be straightened/fixed and he said, "Leave that pup's tail alone!":rolleyes: So, I did!:w00t:

[R~O~S]

When my Chihuahua, Pennee, was a puppy (she's 9 now), we noted she had a deformed tail - I asked the Vet if it could be straightened/fixed and he said, "Leave that pup's tail alone!":rolleyes: So, I did!:w00t:

I hope you kept the vet along with the crooked tail. The man knows his stuff and he's willing to speak up for the patient even though he could have made some bucks on an unnecessary surgery.

My Cleopatra has a hook at the tip of her tail, she can't straighten it. It doesn't bother her any & there's no medical concern, no need to do a thing.

[warhorse46]

When my Chihuahua, Pennee, was a puppy (she's 9 now), we noted she had a deformed tail - I asked the Vet if it could be straightened/fixed and he said, "Leave that pup's tail alone!":rolleyes: So, I did!:w00t:



Chula, my chihuahua, has a tail that curls up over her back like this dog's.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fs earch%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Dakita%2B dog%26fr%3Dmy-myy-s&w=150&h=136&imgurl=www.guardog.biz%2Fimages%2Fkategorija_7%2Fa kita.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.guardog.biz%2Fakita%2Fakita. dog&size=25k&name=akita+jpg&p=akita+dog&oid=f21d7114fe13e184&fr2=&no=7&tt=62072&sigr=116uqdluf&sigi=11d2h4imp&sigb=12l8jqdgg

[daniel green]

snipped
My Cleopatra has a hook at the tip of her tail, she can't straighten it. It doesn't bother her any & there's no medical concern, no need to do a thing.

Our little Bichon has the same thing. His tail curls up over his back like Bichons do, but then at the very tip it's got that hook. Felt broken to me but our vet said to leave it alone. Just born that way.

[daniel green]

For some reason, tooth decay in dogs really scares me, as ROS said, they can't tell us and it can lead to dangeous health issues. So we are very strict on washing their teeth--a good scrub--3 times a week.

[febreze]

it would be hard to brush a dogs teeth but, i've seen some that actually like it and mine are not fond of it but, do let me do it, i try to do it twice a week but, it usually ends up being once a week but, it's better then not at all. it does make a difference. but, you do have to use pet tooth paste not ours

[samsong]

it would be hard to brush a dogs teeth but, i've seen some that actually like it and mine are not fond of it but, do let me do it, i try to do it twice a week but, it usually ends up being once a week but, it's better then not at all. it does make a difference. but, you do have to use pet tooth paste not ours

I brush my dog's teeth almost every night. He loves it. All I have to do is say "Let's get your teeth done" and he runs into the bathroom.

It was funny though. I got mint toothpaste and he didn't like it one bit. He would clamp his mouth shut. I went back to his poultry flavored and he is back to normal.