Hi jetred,
From your post a year ago… this is exactly the type of information I'm searching for, "I know this might not be survivable for her but I can't find any advice on how to get a dog through cancer, what to look out for, when is she truly in pain, what spindle cell does over time and when is enough for her and time to set her free."
So I am wondering, what was your plan with Luna? How did you make decisions? What information did you learn that you think is important to know about the spindle cell cancer disease process?
I have a 15 yr old girl (aussie shepard mix) who is in good spirits, enjoys slow short walks, putting her nose in the wind, eating, etc all normally. We've had two surgeries already to debulk the tumor on her rear leg. One in 2013, and the second recently in June from which she recovered well for her age. Though it returned quickly (3 mos) and larger this time. It's now an open lesion. I am both astounded and perplexed at how she acts pretty normal given this! My vet (who is a new vet to us as I just moved) initially discussed end of life decisions and then also offered amputation as an option to consider. I would so appreciate any thoughts you have and/or hear more about your story.
Thank you.
What's considered baseline?
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I read it and also am of the belief that some lines just have naturally harder to take care of teeth than other, not necessarily that the condition you mention is hereditary. I'm not sure if Oakleys parents had naturally plaquey teeth but of the three dogs I've owned, Oakley is the first to have teeth that are hard to take care of/ keep up with…he started early accumulating plaque even when as a pup I brushed his teeth daily...since I started brushing less frequently thy have just gotten bad (on his back molars and chipped tooth)...
He's a high maintenance boy..lol...luckily the cleaning includes polishing and bloodwork for around 244 pre tax..so it's worth it before it gets out of hand..then it's brushing and plaque off...sprinkling it is way easier than a spray..whoop
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Now that I think of it I think I also read this wrong. I am aware that this line does have a higher occurance of teeth issues. I got in a bit of a tizzy over the enamel hypoplasia thing because I would not have put all the time and effort into getting his championship if there was a possibility that it was hereditary. Looks to be genetic in poodles maybe but I could find nothing about B's and like I said I don't want to breed into something like that. I saw all of my hard work and effort go down the drain along with all of the money if I knew I wouldn't be able to breed him.
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I commend you on being willing to not breed if this turned out to be the case; some who aren't as responsible would choose to do so anyway…I don't blame you either way for being upset over all your hard work possibly being jeopardized...breeding doesn't sound easy in any aspect!
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Ps- I just left the vets, Oakley got his annual exam, a four month supply of advantix, pre op bloodwork and his yearly fecal test…286$ later...lol!
He looks good,and healthy...I was quoted 233$ for the teeth cleaning including anesthesia...so it'll be an expensive month...I guess I'll just have to dream about new sneakers!
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Are you saying that Enamel Hypoplasia is hereditary?? I have found nothing to back this up, but if it is true I also don't want to breed something that could possibly be hereditary. The vet's I have talked to said it was probably from a fever when he was a puppy, or possibly a reaction to a vaccine. I just need clarification.
I don't think I said that Enamel Hypoplasia was hereditary, I said that there are bloodlines that have teeth issues, I didn't mean for that to be taken that this particular affliction was Hereditary… And I had one such line (and no I did not breed that line or that dog).
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I don't think I said that Enamel Hypoplasia was hereditary, I said that there are bloodlines that have teeth issues, I didn't mean for that to be taken that this particular affliction was Hereditary… And I had one such line (and no I did not breed that line or that dog).
Sorry Tanza, I totally read that wrong, my appologies.
Chelsea, good to hear Oakley is doing well. Be lucky that your vet bills for teeth cleaning are so cheap down there! Seems vet care here is so expensive.
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I agree…I was surprised at the cost for teeth cleaning including anesthesia and polishing being only 233$...the pre op bloodwork was 95$ and the vets office has to warn that if any extractions are needed its 26$/tooth with an extra charge of 55$ for the extra half hour of anesthesia..I am 99.999% confident that's not needed- as I said, Oakley is 28months old and has no compromised teeth, just plaque on his back molars and long top canines that although the vet said he could scrape off during our appt...it wouldn't be polished and therefore wouldn't help with plaque accumulation...
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Ps- I just left the vets, Oakley got his annual exam, a four month supply of advantix, pre op bloodwork and his yearly fecal test…286$ later...lol!
He looks good,and healthy...I was quoted 233$ for the teeth cleaning including anesthesia...so it'll be an expensive month...I guess I'll just have to dream about new sneakers!
I just paid my $2000 MRI bill for Sonny….want to trade?
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If you KNOW there was some incident that could have caused it, I'd worry less about genetics. If not, then I'd be checking out others in the line and the line of any potential mates. I have no idea if recessive, dominant or what and too tired to look but hope truly his was environmentally induced.
http://loudoun.nvcc.edu/vetonline/vet221/dentistry/lesson2.htm
Enamel hypoplasia is a rare condition of defective enamel formation caused by illness during tooth development, trauma to the developing tooth bud, or can be inherited. The enamel will be soft and chalky instead of hard and shiny. You must be careful cleaning a tooth with enamel hypoplasia as you can easily damage the soft flaky enamel surface. Teeth with enamel hypoplasia are often more susceptible to caries.<<
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@sonnyboy:
I just paid my $2000 MRI bill for Sonny….want to trade?
No thank you!!!!
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Oakleys going in for his dental cleaning this month, it's his first one and I'm of course always nervous to hand him over to the vets…any discomfort to be expected or soreness/sensatitvity I should expect?!
Bloodwork came back fine so we have the green light to do it, but I will get nervous! -
Oakleys going in for his dental cleaning this month, it's his first one and I'm of course always nervous to hand him over to the vets…any discomfort to be expected or soreness/sensatitvity I should expect?!
Bloodwork came back fine so we have the green light to do it, but I will get nervous!Depends on what they find, if just a normal cleaning, should not be any discomfort…. if he has to have any extractions, then he could have some discomfort for a couple of days. Soft food is in order for a couple of days... and usually they will give you pain meds just in case.
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I was always nervous, too, Chealsie, but Spencer usually was back to normal that day. He didn't have to have any extractions until he was a senior. I know you've had plaque issues with Oakley, but it will probably be a routine in and out. I'll be curious to know if the vet recommends anything new for the plaque. Ava doesn't have issues yet… and I'm trying to keep it that way for as long as I can.
You'll be amazed at how gleaming white Oakley's teeth will be after the cleaning and polishing!
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I couldn't imagine in my wildest dreams them needing to pull a tooth…I gave the ok to pull if they had to but as I've been thinking about it, I'd prefer to be called before they do...I just can't imagine it's necessary in his case (it's not about the money)... I would just prefer to know before they do it.
I am hopeful it'll be an "in and out"...but you always hear stories...sometimes it's better not to google possible side effects of a procedure!!!
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At two, I can't imagine Oakley would need an extraction, either. I'm sure it will go smoothly, but I know what you mean– they're our babies, and we always worry! When is he having his cleaning?
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21st…first day I could get off work, since I can't drop him off at open because of the confinement/separation anxiety..they're going I call when their ready to take him into surgery...then..I have to be nearby in case I need to come get him...(I live two streets down from my vet)
My concern right now is that Oakley flipped like a switch after his three day hospital stay for the xylitol poisoning..he came home and was a different dog (stayed in his crate without flipping out, tolerated me being at work)..so I'm just afraid that he will be traumatized by "rocking the boat"
After all, he tolerates the crate when I go to work or leave but I could never come home then leave again..he has a very fine line between what's "ok" and "what's not"
Lol- so complex! -
Pat, I have never had them give pain meds unless a tooth was extracted and lord knows I have had dentals done and by 5 different vets over the last 10 yrs.
Arwen has hers done every 3 months, she is always fine. I give her soft food the first day then back to normal though I do avoid any chews for a couple of days. I also generally get prophylactic antibiotics because she has an autoimmune disorder and I don't want to risk it. I know many vets ALWAYS give antibiotics, some depends. Ask your vet.
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Are they scheduling Oakley first, so he won't have to be caged? Spencer didn't like to be caged at the vet's, so one of the vet techs would take him into the office after his cleaning and let him lie in a doggy bed near her while she worked. Maybe they could do something like that for Oakley, if he has anxiety? But he will probably wake up ready to go home, and you'll be close by so I'm sure it will be NBD.
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They do teeth cleanings last on surgery day bc it's the procedure with the highest incidence of infection..and because he can't be caged inthat situation they are going to call when they're ready to take him into surgery..as soon as I walk away from him he will flip his lid…he can't soothe himself in regards to me leaving ( unless it's what we've worked on..like crating when I go to work once a day). I can't even have someone hold his leash while I walk twenty feet away..he cries, panics and pulls.. Hopefully it will be minimal awake time pre surgery and afterwards he will be too groggy to thrash and scream or realize "mommy" isn't there. I'm crossing my fingers, that's all I can do to prepare at this point and hope there is no regression after.
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Oh, that makes it hard. Ava doesn't like to be alone, but she doesn't necessarily care if it's me. When I take her to daycare, she reaches out her "arms" like a baby for the person to take her to play. And she doesn't even look back!
I can see how your situation would be tough on both of you. But I'm sure Oakley will be fine. When they're young, a dental is usually a breeze with no aftereffects. And who knows– maybe this will end up being a positive like last time, and Oakley will come home more tolerant of being left. We can always hope!
