Tess visits the dentist

Repawter: Tess
Dad went to brush my teeth on a Friday evening and noticed that one of my canines had snapped. We went to our vets the next morning and our vet suggested that we try the Dental Vets in Haddington as they might be able to save the canine by doing root canal treatment.



Our vet sent photos of my tooth to the Dental Vets,and they booked me in for an operation on the Wednesday. On Wednesday morning, we met Ashleigh who would be doing the operation. Mum and Dad said she was very thorough in her explanation and options. Ashleigh said I had some other loose teeth, and they would need to be taken out. At that stage Mum and Dad said to take the canine out as well. When Mum and Dad left,Ashleigh took me through to the pre-op area.

About 90 minutes later, Ashleigh phoned Mum to say that my teeth had been cleaned, my canine removed, and 6 teeth needed to come out. Also, she had found a little lump at my gum and had removed that and would send it off to be investigated but she was certain it was just calcification, but we would know for sure when we got the results back. Mum and Dad were told I could be collectedat 1pm.

When Mum and Dad came to collect me, the receptionist tried to find Ashleigh, but she couldn’t be found. That is because Ashleigh was sitting with me giving me cuddles! Ashleigh went to see Mum and Dad and spent time explaining the x-rays of my teeth and showing the photo of my mouth after the operation. Mum told Dad to stand in the way of that photo as Mum is a bit squeamish! Ashleigh said for my age I am in good health and overall, my oral health was good. Mum said Dad needs to take the credit for that as it is Dad that brushes my teeth every night. I was given three lots of medicine to take over the next 3 to 6 days and two tins of wet dog food, and the dreaded cone! I was to be given wet food for the next 10 days (hand fed) and the cone is to stay on for 3 weeks.

Mum set up timers on her phone for my various medication and said other than the cone you wouldn’t know that I had just had an operation. As well as the wet food, Mum has been cooking chicken for me and Dad has been cutting up strawberries and mango for me to have too. Dad also shares his breakfast of yoghurt and bananas with me and Rufus, but I am not allowed any biscuits or any other treats.

We were to go back on the Friday for a check-up. This time we met Piotr as Ashleigh was on holiday. Piotr said he thought one of my teeth had a bit of tartar on it, but it turned out that a bit of my gum didn’t appear to be getting blood to it. So, I was to go back on the Monday and no breakfast in case they had to do a further operation.

We went back on the Monday and Piotr said the gum hadn’t got worse so let’s just keep an eye on it and come back on Friday. We went back on Friday and Ashleigh was back, so we saw her. But the gum area that was a concern had opened and bone was exposed which meant I was in pain and that the tooth beside it would need to come out. Thankfully I hadn’t had my breakfast, so I got operated on straight away. Ashleigh took the tooth out and spent time stitching the gap and making sure the teeth beside it were good. Ashleigh said it was a shame as my mouth other than the one tooth was healing well and Mum and Dad were doing a good job

Mum and Dad collected me at 1.30pm and again Ashleigh showed Mum and Dad the x-rays of my mouth and a photo of all the stitches – again Mum looked away and Dad said it was all very interesting! The results of the lump had come back, and it was good, it was just calcification. I was also back to the start of 10 days of wet food, the three lots of medication and to Mum’s horror – three weeks of the cone! Mum said her legs will not survive and I am quite lethal with the cone on!



I go back on Monday for day three of the second operation check up and paws crossed everything is okay now.

Mum is away to invest in cricket leg pads to protect her legs!
Dad is working hard to pay the vet bills.
Rufus is going to start a Dogmocracy campaign, and his first duty will be to get rid of VAT on vet bills! And I am taking it easy and recuperating.

I already have a fantastic recipe in mind for next month.
Tess