So we got him back, around 4 pm and he was quite doped up, and wimpering quietly. Considering that every tooth left in his head was acquired by a less than tactful tooth fairy, I'd say he did quite well.
By 5:30 he took himself down the stairs for a very urgent Pee-mail message that needed sending. He is now sleeping contentedly in his bed by Ken's side.
Which leads to a very important consideration for pet keepers of all sorts. Flashing back to June 14, we became the proud owners of this beautiful gem of a pooch. He is only 5 years old, but being a toy poodle, special care is needed for him.
Poodles are especially prone to tartar build up, and extra dental attention. That and they need clipping about every 2 months.
When you get animals, it is so very important for their well being to be aware of any issue specific to the breed, and in general to tend to their health matters.
In Midnight's case, the tartar was more than a breath killer, and ugly crusting on his teeth. With that kind of build-up, the bacteria is very toxic - causing the bad breath, but worse, it was actually letting those toxins get into the blood stream. He probably wouldn't have lasted more than a couple years, left as he was.
I know with Max, I was chipping the tartar every 2 months. With Midnight, a couple weeks ago, he was licking at a particularly annoying tartar projection on a front tooth, so as I have chipped it from Max, I took a blunt backed tooth pick to chip it off, and the tooth attached to the tartar popped right out with it. That is how bad they were.
Toy poodles can survive to a ripe old age of even as much as 18 and more, so to be so unwell so young is very sad. The cost of a pet is more than just initial purchase, toys, food and leashes and such. If you can't afford regular health care, it is probably better for all concerned to resist the temptation.
I will be getting the bill tomorrow, but in the meantime, I have a toothless 5 year old who should not have had to go through such trauma so young. He will be able to live a long healthy life gumming his way through a lifetime of meals.
Sorry for the rant, but so many people don't think the process through when staring into the lovable puppy or kitty eyes. Gone are the days when you just let "nature take its course" when pet care is concerned.
Our sleepy boy is doing much better :)
I have one more shift for now, and then we go to get Smokey - hopefully, but that is another story.
Now I bid you
Adieu
This post just about made me cry. Amen to everything you said.
ReplyDeleteMy Tabitha needs regular teeth cleaning once a year. When I went to adopt Neelix, the Humane Society waived a bunch of regulations and fees when they saw the bills for the teeth cleaning, knowing they'd found a good home for this gentle puss. People who treat their pets like possessions suck.
The irony is that it is very clear that he was a pampered pup, with all the killing love steps like only moist food, and an attitude of things for the precious are more important than paying for "expensive unnecessary vet expenses".
ReplyDeleteThe mind boggles sometimes.....
... and this post DID make me cry. I read it to Ken before posting it and choked several times in the reading of it.