UPDATE ON NED'S Slab Fracture on Back Molar

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We took the dogs to the vet today for their annual checkups and immunizations.  The vet found that Ned has a slab fracture on his back molar.  He said it is quite a common occurance - NOT at my house! His suggestion is to watch it and when it starts to get infected, have it removed.  I did a search on dk and what I found seems to bear out that repair is not always successful as well as bring very costly.   Ned chews on bones, antlers, Nylabones. I have always worried that since we use larger and strong chewer ones because of the bigger dogs it might be bad for Ned's smaller jaw/teeth.  Maybe this is not a good idea or maybe his tooth would do this anyway? Does anyone have any updated information they can share? Opinions on waiting until it bothers him?  Having the vet do the procedure rather than seeking a doggy dentist?  We are still paying for Gordie's CCL surgery........ sigh.

UPDATE. NED GOT HIS TOOTH PULLED

We had a phone consultation with a specialist and were told that pulling Ned's tooth was a relatively simple procedure.  So we decided to have our regular vet do it.  Since we were concerned that if we waited until it was infected ( allowing him to keep the tooth longer), there might be more complications, so we had it pulled last week. 

Ned had nothing to eat or drink after midnight and was dropped off  at 8 a.m.  I  called periodically all day only to be told that they hadn't gotten to him yet.  We called at 4:00 and he still hadn't been worked on, so we decided that we would pick him up and bring him back. But when we got there they were just finishing him up and they said we would have to leave him overnight!  I was quite upset about that because Ned has never been away from  us at night,  he doesn't eat in public and doesn't pee or poo for others or on-leash very well at all.  I was there when they opened the next morning expecting a mad, pouty Ned.  However, a cheerful good-smelling, happy-to-see-me Ned pranced out to greet me the next morning. As soon as we got outside to the grass, he peed for about an hour! 

He is taking 50 mg of Rimadyl once a day and the antibiotic, Clindamycin, 75 mg twice a day.  He was starving for a couple of days and even ate as soon as I set the dish down, but now has settled back into his old habit of night eating - but with an improved appetite.  I was told I didn't need to, but I have been softening his kibble and will continue to do so until he runs out of meds.  He had a few disolving stitches to close the gum and my logic tells me that he shouldn't irritate it with hard kibble. Because he is eating every meal, I wonder if his tooth had been bothering him for a long, long time (perhaps a crack that was not noticed by the groomer or at other check ups)

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Some of my favorite memories are in a camper, hanging with my girlfriends, in the down pour of rain.  Enjoy. I wish so much I was with you all.  Have fun

[Donna K & Quincy]

Glad to hear that Ned didn't hold his overnight stay against you. I would be inclined to give him softer food for a few days as well. Now you won't have the worry of an infection in that tooth.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I was really worried that he would be mad at me because I have seen so many other dogs get aloof when they felt abandoned. I guess Nedderbudder is more secure in his doodleness than I thought.

[Christine & Camus]

A cheerful good-smelling, happy-to-see-me Ned!  You think he wrapped them around his paw?  Seriously though, I'm glad you had it pulled and averted any possible complications down the line.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The only downside was the doofus vet tech who asked me if I was picking up the little apricot POODLE...  I told him no I wasn't but I was there to pick up the cute little apricot DOODLE.  He smelled baby powder fresh - so nice even if it was just body spray!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Interesting idea about the tooth possibly bothering NED for a while. Glad he's doing well.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I didn't occur to me until he just chowed down on his food at every meal.  I am so glad that we didn't wait any longer.

[Barbara B., Sasha & Oliver]

Feel better Ned !!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I'm so happy to hear that Ned is doing so well!  You must be relieved, Nancy.  I know how hard it is to have to leave our "babies" at the Vets overnight....I'm sure that was a very long night for you. 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

It was a very long night - at least it was only one.

[Jeanne, Tura and Dolly]

Nancy, one of my doodles had dental work early in her life and the vet dentist was adamant about no hard chewing objects except Kongs, which I have yet to have a dog interested in chewing.  He showed me all kinds of nasty pictures of broken and cracked teeth.  I did stop for awhile and I have been hesitant to try the antlers for that reason.  But Bully sticks?  Geez, a dog has to have something once in awhile. Now my dogs are about 2yrs old and I think we will chance it with the bully sticks but antlers?  Probably not.  Vet dentists are expensive!

Glad Ned is doing better.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I am reluctant to let him chew harder things, and so far he hasn't chewed any of the bones laying around, but he needs to be able to chew on something..... what a dilemma.