Saturday, January 12, 2013

Dentures and The Tooth Fairy


I never got a call from the vet yesterday. I had been told to pick Oscar up at 4:00, and they would have only called if something had gone wrong. But I did have to sign that form for him to be put under anesthesia and one of the complications for older pets is death. I read it. Right there in black and white.

I was starting to get a little anxious when He Who taxies dogs home wasn't home. I figured he had plenty of time, but I didn't want to call him. I was afraid to call him. What if the unthinkable happened? Would he tell me on the phone, or would he just show up with my forever sleeping pet?

Why would my mind go there? Well, you would have to know him. Many years ago, when my children were young and I worked the 4-midnight shift in the ER, I had a cat named Patches (along with a Doberman named Boobs ........... but that is a whole other story).

One evening while I was about the business of gathering meds for a patient the phone in the nurses station rang for me. It was He Who was home with the kids calling to tell me a car ran over my cat and killed her. So I had half my shift to work and think about my poor cat under the wheels of the car. He gave details to assure me that she died quickly. So you can see how my thoughts might turn a little macabre.

He arrived home with my old boy safe and sound in his arms. He handed him over and told me that he had lost 12 teeth!! He handed me five syringes of pain meds and the paperwork and rushed off to a tow job.

I felt like poor Oscar had been at One Day Dentures! He was whimpering with hunger and we don't have canned dog food. I boiled some chicken broth and rice for him. He has had his pain meds for the day and is resting quietly.

The real question is, does the tooth fairy visit dogs? Oh, and will he need dentures now?

10 comments:

Brian Miller said...

oh goodness...glad your boy is home...and 12 teeth...oh my...maybe he will at least get a treat on his pillow from the fairy..smiles.

luksky said...

poor boy!!!! I'm glad he made it back alive and well!!

mamahasspoken said...

12 teeth! Poor thing isn't going to be able to eat anything but baby food!

Val said...

Poor guy! I'm sure he's relieved to be home. I didn't know dogs lost their teeth or needed them pulled.

Kathy G said...

Two years ago when one of our cats got his teeth cleaned the vet filled a cavity. That was the first I'd heard of animal dentistry. Hope Oscar starts feeling better soon.

joanne said...

poor fella', I've seen those commercials for pet dentures! Hope he is feeling better in a day or two...then you will have some explaining to do woman!

Linda O'Connell said...

Poor baby, in the long run he will be happy and may regain his vim and vigor. Toothaches are no fun. Glad he made it through.

Anonymous said...

We had a cat who had lost almost all of his teeth, which the vet said was not unusual for cats who lived to be old in a domestic environment. Even her lab cats were toothless. Our cat, Pepe, ate very well and lived many more years beyond the normal life expectancy. Hope your dog has a similar life story.

Mevely317 said...

Oh, poor Oscar ... and poor you! When we learned Caraleigh had to have (just) 4 teeth removed, I was all prepared to stay with her. No? OK, I'll sit in the waiting room? No?
I was a nervous wreck. Suffice to say, she bounced right back. But now, approaching 13 y/o, I'm more than a little nervous about the next check-up.
Sending hugs to Oscar!

Pat said...

Poor little doggie. He went through so much! Looks like he's going to need soft dog food for the rest of his life!