Need to "make a meatball"

[Stacy]

I just got off the phone with Ava's dentist and the tumor is bigger than he expected, he still thinks she'll do great, but they are going to have to remove both lower canine's and the central incisors. I'm devastated, but trying to be proactive. 

He says that some dogs have a learning curve up to a couple weeks to figure out how to eat without those teeth and suggested a food that you can "make a meatball" with, that that might be easier for her. 

Given that she normally eats Fromm Chicken Ala Veg, do you have any recommendations on what to give her that would work? Maybe one of the freeze dried foods? I feel so helpless, but at least I can find her something to eat. 

And yes, I am totally freaking out.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Trust that she knows you are doing what needs to be done for her. I'm glad she enjoyed her meatball. I hope you both have a peaceful, snuggly night. 

[Stacy]

Thanks, Karen! Snuggling is the only thing on the agenda tonight.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Poor Ava.  She just can't catch a break - her previous life must have been even worse than you suspect.  She is so lucky to have you to keep her safe and as healthy as she can be, and to give her such love.  Of course you need to do special things for her right now as directed by your vet, but just to let your mind rest easier, my daughter's tiny rescue dog, has had most of her teeth pulled - perhaps poor food, poor care, poor genes, but with each tooth extraction, she just bounces back. My daughter feeds her very small kibble that she softens with water after the extractions. 

[Stacy]

The thing that bothers me is that she obviously isn't the healthiest dog in the world, even discounting the complications when she was spayed as a total fluke. And she has so many babies out there - and her sister has so many babies out there. And now they are breeding her offspring. And even though I think she's about the best dog in the whole world, from a health stanpoint she is not the dog that I would want a puppy from. I worry about all those other dogs with potentially the same health problems. I just worry about them. 

I once had a rescue that came without a single tooth in his mouth and he never had a moment of trouble eating or doing anything else he wanted to. And Olivia lost teeth at every dental and did great. I know Ava will be completely fine. I just get a little dramatic about her. We are really bonded. 

And Katie thinks it's totally unfair that I bought Ava special food and she has to eat boring old Fromm.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Poor Katie! She is probably so neglected and unloved...... Suuurrrre!  :-}

[Stacy]

That's what she thinks! I promised her that she could have some if there are leftovers after Ava is all better. That stuff smells good! Better than anything I've ever cooked - that tells you something about my cooking or lack thereof. I'm afraid they won't want to go back to kibble.