I've always been a pretty conscientious pet owner, especially with my Michaelangelo, and it's gotten more so over time as I researched more and more and learned what my alternatives were for his care, from the food I feed him, to the vets I chose to use. I used to clean his teeth really regularly...then I got really slackey about it and then suddenly realized, hey! These teeth are looking a little narley!! I started back on the brushing track again, but by this time, and at his age, which is believed to be around 7 - 7.5 years - yeah, it was time to go get them cleaned "for reals"!!
Last year or half-so ago, I had a gal come to my home and clean Michaelangelo's teeth right here on my living room floor without the high cost of the actual office visit. It was still $150. I found her card at my vet's clinic and talked to them briefly about it. I decided to check her out and put off the "real" cleaning as long as possible. She came out, got Michael into her with a couple of yummy organic pup treats, then managed to swaddle him in a pup-sized blanket and clean those puppy pegs! Like, actually scraping on his teeth (she is a trained dental assistant and somehow she got into working on dogs) I guess it worked for that time, but yeah, it was now time, I could see from really inspecting those back canine molars that the proper Pup Doctor took a proper look-see for the proper assessment of the puppy pegs!!!
Well, had the pre-op blood work done last week and he's as fit as a horse! Strong, sturdy, happy, could stand to lose maybe one pound, trim up a teeeensey weeeensey right here! as the doctor gripped his little waist...I laughed out loud, as I somehow knew that would be the only thing the doctor said about my handsome Jack Russell! I explained our walk time gets cut down by about half during the rainy, cold months of winter, Michael could do without being cold and wet, and told him how he sits happily to be blow-dried. He laughed out loud then too and said it's true for many of the vet's animals! The walking part, not the hair dryer part! Then my mind went to that "
Doggie Treadmill" I found in an everything-and-anything-ridiculous-you-could-ever-dream-up-for-your-dog catalog and then I laughed out loud again as I quickly envisioned Michael and I on treadmills side by side...I swear, he and I are destined to spend our winters walking Venice Beach....
I had to make the appointment out a few days, until Thursday of this week...I get nervous leading up to when I am ever going to be put under anestheisia - just knowing that for anyone - human or animal alike - it's a risk. So I kept blocking out the scary things that kept trying to creep into my mind, and I just kept singing about how fresh and so clean his teeth were gonna be. I'm sure he was like, "Mom, you are faaalliiipppiiin OUT!" I do wonder what he thinks, but I DO know that he loves me!
I waited occasionally anxiously - even though I was keeping busy with projects - for the vets assistant to call me to let me know how he was doing. I did not hear from them so I knew it was good news that he needed no extractions! Thank god for that! Can you imagine a pup's tooth having to come out?! Bless the pup, he has two front teeth missing due to a certain monster that was in my life for a little while - the horrifying details of which I won't talk about now...I did get a call and found that Michael has a peridontal disease and his gums receeding a little bit, and at what we guess is about 7 years or so of age, it's a bit early for that. So, he's on some herbals for this week, and I have a little gelly concoction to put on his gums for a week or so as well...And as soon as the swelling goes down, we will get back to our regular peggy brushings, the vet said it does help....but there still comes a time when they need to go in and have it all properly done, under anesthesia. I'm really glad I went in and had this done, regardless that I'm broke and had to do it on credit. I'd rather be working on his need -and this one is just as important as any other - and keeping him with his teeth till he's an old, old man!!
Brush your animals teeth, peeps and get them cleaned when they need it! You can get some natural paste at the cool pet places, like
Portland Pet Supply on Hawthorne. Could save your pets teeth and avoid other health problems that could be worse, and very expensive!!
And by the way, I LOVE our doctors at the
Hawthorne Veteranary Clinic! They ROCK and Michael really loves Dr. Yale! Check them out, they are holistic, and Michael had accupuncture also while he was there! Holistic health for your pet is COOL and will prolong their life!
Now that is such a handsome pup I had to make some works of art out of his fabulous portrait! Is that a handsome pup or what? 
Being the true Jack Russell that he is, Michaelangelo is an undercover pup and sometimes I catch him with his nose or his toes sticking out from under the covers!!