TOTALLY GEEKED!

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Dog Advice

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

If he isn't having problems with it, I'd say let it go.

weltschmerz · Guru

A dental implant? What for? Can't you just give him softer foods?
Personally, I wouldn't spring for an implant, especially in an older dog.

Fort Worth Mom · Mod/Penguin lover/Princess!

I wouldn't do the teeth or get him fixed.

Keep an eye on him.

When he shows signs of pain when eating, that is your clue to put him down.

That's how I would handle it.

I hope he has lots of time left.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

$1200 is REALLY high. We had Sheba's carnassial tooth removed and it was only about $500 and that has 3 roots. The carnassial tooth is the really big one in the back.

If the tooth is not bothering her, I would leave it alone for now. At her age, the risk of the anasthesia for the surgery might be greater than the tooth issue.

Ohfour · Hooker

Yeah, I'd be finding another vet. This one seems to want a bunch of money....

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

I'd find another vet to have the tooth extracted. If it gets infected it can get into his blood stream. An implant is a ridiculous idea. And why fix or chip him at 14? Seriously find another vet. I don't think I paid $1200 to have my own tooth extracted.

Riding · Guru

I agree as long as he is not in pain, I wouldn't do those things. You seem to be very aware of your pet's health etc., and as a responsible owner will do the best thing for him when it is time. I am also hoping for more time with your fur baby for you.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

He really isn't a money grubber. TRUST ME. We took Layla to probably a dozen vets before we found him and he was the only one that found the answer. Yes, he very thorough. I like that because when you're there he really pays attention and uses that old black paper and puts it between his notes and another piece of paper and you walk out with an instant copy of whatever he notes. He gave us three quotes. The high end, the middle, and the low end. He keeps telling us that if Hemi is caught by the pound then we will have to pay a big fine. We keep telling him that Hemi goes out long enough to do his business and come back in. Dude, he's OLD. He eats and sleeps. He said if we didn't do the implant it would affect his chewing. He also told us we would have to do blood work because at his age Hemi might not even live through the surgery. He has left it totally up to us.

Hemi is old. His days are numbered. He has some skin tags that have grown. He has some non cancerous lumps that have grown. Nothing bothers him. He's not in pain except for his arthritis and you can see him limp some days because of that. We have him on the glucosamine with chondrition. You can tell he doesn't see as well as he used to and you really have to holler to get him to come. He's been a great dog. He doesn't seem to be hurting from the tooth. It will be sad when his days are over.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

The vets around here are all expensive. Getting ready to leave so can't explain the whole story right now. $1200 would be the top price. If we cut out all the unnecessary stuff it would go down to about $700.

Lawyerlady · On the bright side...... Christmas is coming! (Mod)

Nobody Just Nobody wrote:
The vets around here are all expensive. Getting ready to leave so can't explain the whole story right now. $1200 would be the top price. If we cut out all the unnecessary stuff it would go down to about $700.

That sounds more reasonable, but I still wouldn't do it unless it is bothering him.

Lexxy · My dog name is Sasha, too!

After I had my own tooth extracted I went 2 years before getting an implant. I chewed just fine. Desmond is missing his left canine & chews just fine. I just don't see doing the implant. I don't know about for dogs but human implants take multiple visits over 4 months & cost about $3000. I just can't see doing that to him.

weltschmerz · Guru

The problem with animals and pain, is that they try not to exhibit signs of pain. In the wild, the animal that seems distressed, not in the best of health, or lame, is singled out by predators.
That's why pets tend to disguise their pain and not show it.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Yes. But if you know your dog, you notice when they stop eating like they once did. When they begin to avoid things they use to like.

chef · Guru

You know Hemi, NJN. You know if he's acting like himself or not. Trust your gut.

Personally, I wouldn't fix the tooth. Anesthesia may be too much for him at his age.

Southern_Belle · Nothing's Impossible

I wouldn't do anything about the tooth. Are there nearby vet schools that might offer a discount?

Honeys_Mom · Mod & Permanent Board Sweetheart

weltschmerz wrote:
The problem with animals and pain, is that they try not to exhibit signs of pain. In the wild, the animal that seems distressed, not in the best of health, or lame, is singled out by predators.
That's why pets tend to disguise their pain and not show it.

Apparently Honey is a bit too far from her ancestors to try and hide her discomfort... my baby wants babying when she's hurting.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Okay back. I promise you it's NOT bothering him. He loves tennis balls. He chews on them all the time. I just can't see him chewing on them if it hurt. And he's always the first one done with his food. He eats treats and things without a problem. I can physically tell his eyes aren't what they used to be. And unless you call him really loudly he doesn't come.

The vet isn't pressuring us to do anything. Well, except for the chipping and fixing. He's only pushing for that because that's our city's rule and he has to note that he told us to do it. IF Hemi got picked up by the pound we get fined $200 for the chipping and another $200 for not fixing him. But that's not going to happen. They will ask you if you have a vet when you pick them up and why the vet didn't do that. So I think the push for that is just a CYA. The rest of it he said we could do or not do. Entirely up to us. We talked to him about end of life issues with him. He knows our desires. He told us Hemi might not even make it through the surgery due to his age. So he has been quite honest with us.

weltschmerz · Guru

Honeys_Mom wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
The problem with animals and pain, is that they try not to exhibit signs of pain. In the wild, the animal that seems distressed, not in the best of health, or lame, is singled out by predators.
That's why pets tend to disguise their pain and not show it.
Apparently Honey is a bit too far from her ancestors to try and hide her discomfort... my baby wants babying when she's hurting.

It's an evolutionary throwback. Animals do it all time. Humans, too.

weltschmerz · Guru

weltschmerz wrote:
Honeys_Mom wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
The problem with animals and pain, is that they try not to exhibit signs of pain. In the wild, the animal that seems distressed, not in the best of health, or lame, is singled out by predators.
That's why pets tend to disguise their pain and not show it.
Apparently Honey is a bit too far from her ancestors to try and hide her discomfort... my baby wants babying when she's hurting.
It's an evolutionary throwback. Animals do it all time, like dogs going round and round before they lie down. Humans have throwbacks, too.

Tignanello · My dog name is, Sasha!

ha! Z-Dog cries and runs to me if he hurts in the slightest. Apparently he is not worried about predators!

weltschmerz · Guru

Well, just thought I should back up my claim....

Just because a pet is not moaning or crying out does not mean it is not in pain. Pets feel pain the same way humans do, based on physiological and neurological studies. However, unlike humans, animals are quite long-suffering and less likely to express their pain vocally or physically. This is because animals instinctively try to mask their pain since to do otherwise can make them vulnerable to predators.

www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/city/story.html

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

Our timber wolf did that. All our big out door dogs have done that.

But the indoor dogs, they let you know.

And Spot. Our big outdoor dog now. He let's you know when he farts.

weltschmerz · Guru

lilyofcourse wrote:
Our timber wolf did that. All our big out door dogs have done that.

But the indoor dogs, they let you know.

And Spot. Our big outdoor dog now. He let's you know when he farts.

You have a timber wolf? So did I!! His name was Volchok, which means Little Wolf in Russian. I nursed him back to health after he was shot.

It's not a pet I would recommend.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

weltschmerz wrote:
lilyofcourse wrote:
Our timber wolf did that. All our big out door dogs have done that.

But the indoor dogs, they let you know.

And Spot. Our big outdoor dog now. He let's you know when he farts.
You have a timber wolf? So did I!! His name was Volchok, which means Little Wolf in Russian. I nursed him back to health after he was shot.
It's not a pet I would recommend.

We did. Sheba died about 10 years ago.

I brought her home when she was 7 weeks old. She was about the size my Monster is now.

She was the best dog we ever had. I'd have another like her in a heartbeat.

Perfectly protective and the biggest lap dog at the same time.

I miss her.

weltschmerz · Guru

Well, it's not exactly a dog. It's a wolf. He was full-grown.
I guess after his brush with death, Volchok considered me to be the alpha wolf. He was very protective of me. It become.....problematic.

Nobody Just Nobody · Rib-it! Rrrib-it!

Well, just to clarify the money part. This vet is really good. He does not have to use Hemi to bleed us dry. Sheesh, Layla has cost us, literally, thousands to treat her skin issues. If he wanted money from use he could get a lot more from hollering about her. However, she's doing awesome on the allergy meds he prescribed. It's a fine walk between too much and not enough. We're constantly readjusting.

lilyofcourse · My spirit animal is a pink flamingo.

weltschmerz wrote:
Well, it's not exactly a dog. It's a wolf. He was full-grown.
I guess after his brush with death, Volchok considered me to be the alpha wolf. He was very protective of me. It become.....problematic.

Well yeah. I know they are not technically dogs.

But neighbors can get nervous when say you have a wolf.

Sheba was a few generations removed from the wild.

The biggest thing was not feeding her anything but dog food.

But she was protective. They are very protective.

She had a pen at the back of our property, now we were backed up to some woods and only had one neighbor at the time.

But I was home alone, it was around 4ish I guess, and a guy pulled up in the yard.

Sheba jumped out of her pen and beat him to our door. She never barked or growled or anything. She just sat between him and the door.

I was watching through the curtain and the guy started around to the front of the house. Sheba stayed right with him, between him and the house.

When he started up on the porch she came up in front of him and stood at the top of the steps. She was eye level with him and she didn't take her eyes off of him.

He called out to me, asked if my dad was home. I was standing in the window. I said no and told him to leave. He took a step up and Sheba lowered her head and raised her hackles and he backed off.

She followed him back to his car, staying between him and the house, and when he left she went back up and jumped back in her pen.

That was the only time she ever showed any real aggression. And she didn't do anything really.

And when I had Caitlyn, Lord she bathed that child with kisses. Caitlyn was about three weeks old, Sheba came to the car to see her, she had waited all she was going to.

She loved Caitlyn.

sweet tooth · Member

lilyofcourse wrote:
weltschmerz wrote:
Well, it's not exactly a dog. It's a wolf. He was full-grown.
I guess after his brush with death, Volchok considered me to be the alpha wolf. He was very protective of me. It become.....problematic.
Well yeah. I know they are not technically dogs.
But neighbors can get nervous when say you have a wolf.
Sheba was a few generations removed from the wild.
The biggest thing was not feeding her anything but dog food.
But she was protective. They are very protective.
She had a pen at the back of our property, now we were backed up to some woods and only had one neighbor at the time.
But I was home alone, it was around 4ish I guess, and a guy pulled up in the yard.
Sheba jumped out of her pen and beat him to our door. She never barked or growled or anything. She just sat between him and the door.
I was watching through the curtain and the guy started around to the front of the house. Sheba stayed right with him, between him and the house.
When he started up on the porch she came up in front of him and stood at the top of the steps. She was eye level with him and she didn't take her eyes off of him.
He called out to me, asked if my dad was home. I was standing in the window. I said no and told him to leave. He took a step up and Sheba lowered her head and raised her hackles and he backed off.
She followed him back to his car, staying between him and the house, and when he left she went back up and jumped back in her pen.
That was the only time she ever showed any real aggression. And she didn't do anything really.

And when I had Caitlyn, Lord she bathed that child with kisses. Caitlyn was about three weeks old, Sheba came to the car to see her, she had waited all she was going to.
She loved Caitlyn.

Wow. I'm not a dog person, but even I would love to have a dog/wolf like that.

Mellow Momma · Sniff...sniff, sniff. Yay! A Bum!

My vet pulled Aksel's baby teeth for $50 each. Now he is a tiny dog but still, that price seems steep. I wouldn't fix it unless I could tell he wasn't eating or enjoying bones etc.

Someday Aksel will need to have his patella luxation fixed and we are saving up now. Lol. I know it will be pricey.