I killed my dogs with love and ignorance.

[magicre]

Honestly I don't think a lot of owners would go for pulling all the teeth. They just can't see the bigger picture. I think that is the main reason why it's not suggested. I mean some of our clients have a fit if we just pull one tooth, I can't imagine if we pulled all of them or even suggested it. Even if we tell them it's for the best I don't think it really sinks in. I don't understand why it's so hard for people to see the bigger picture.

Genetics definitely plays a role in dental hygiene. Some dogs just have worse teeth than others even on an appropriate diet. They are less likely to have severe dental disease on raw but remember that feeding raw is still very much the minority in ways to feed dogs. From my experience looking into disgusting plaque encrusted mouths that Italian greyhounds have the worst dental hygiene. Even worse than brachycephalic dogs.

you are absolutely right...and you see a lot of dogs come through, right? you work in a vet's office....

yoshi's teeth were pulled...because they were falling out...not all, mind you....but they should have been....same with kimba...and had it been suggested to me...even brought up as a wild thought.....i would have considered it....we do it with humans....

my vets know me....really know me. we don't switch vets...our files alone say something.

we spent two thousand dollars fixing bubba's eyes....he was in pain....i can't have my dogs be in pain...

if it were that bad, why didn't they tell me she was in pain? i would have happily given her darwin's pets or whomever had grinds....

she could have eaten raw or even cooked puree, which i was doing....with egg shells for calcium...and beef heart and liver and all kinds of good stuff...i would have happily made her a raw concoction....

my butcher would have ground chicken for me and rabbit and other boned meat....

i've always wanted choices...my vets knew this. i'm not rich; but, these are my kids.....

i just wanted choices....

i want to know why i didn't go down this road years ago....it never even occurred to me to feed raw.

my vet on saturday....saw malia and bubba and marvelled.....he called them wondrously healthy....he scoffed at doing blood work or fecals or dentals...he said malia looked five years younger....and she's almost eleven....

i will revel in that from now onward....and learn from this....but it's going to take a few more shots of tequila and maybe sake and some sushi.

and time.

[DaneMama]

Just let the healing begin! We are all here for you through all of this

[RawFedDogs]

i will revel in that from now onward....and learn from this....but it's going to take a few more shots of tequila and maybe sake and some sushi.

and time.

I'll get a glass of wine and help you with the sushi.

[magicre]

I'll get a glass of wine and help you with the sushi.

damned straight....i'll do the saki and you can have wine and we'll eat raw fish.

bill. if not for you....you know.

[wags]

So sorry to hear of your dogs passing! Sad to read. The memories you have and the photos will help you get through the roughness of this sorrowful time. Prayers to you.

[stajbs]

magicre,
After 25+ years of marriage my husband would likely say I was put on this earth to drive him nuts. I think it was you who said that your dogs are your kids. It is the same for me. I couldn't have kids, I am well past that issue now, but our dogs will always be my kids.
I have struggled with dental issues as well, but oddly enough it has only been with our two red and white siberians. Our others never had problems. Tooth brushing, chew toys and and their teeth and breath are great. Vet was always pleased with their teeth and so were we. However, Blaze, the red and white in the pic here has some issues. It seems bizarre but I keep wondering if it's just me with the red/white sibe thing. lol I know genetics play a part and obviously diet and dental care, but honestly I am perplexed.

He is scheduled for a cleaning and an extraction of two teeth if need be in a little over a week. Gums look good, but two funky teeth, he is not a hearty chewer either, although my other red and white was and she had this problem too. It is good to learn other people's feelings and experiences about this.

I hope you are feeling just a wee bit better today although I know it takes lots of time. Will keep you in my thoughts. If you are still contemplating some booze to help you deal with it, I will bring some tequila, although with the weather recently a nice frosty Lager or Guiness Stout might hit the spot here.

Take care of yourself!

[magicre]

magicre,
After 25+ years of marriage my husband would likely say I was put on this earth to drive him nuts. I think it was you who said that your dogs are your kids. It is the same for me. I couldn't have kids, I am well past that issue now, but our dogs will always be my kids.
I have struggled with dental issues as well, but oddly enough it has only been with our two red and white siberians. Our others never had problems. Tooth brushing, chew toys and and their teeth and breath are great. Vet was always pleased with their teeth and so were we. However, Blaze, the red and white in the pic here has some issues. It seems bizarre but I keep wondering if it's just me with the red/white sibe thing. lol I know genetics play a part and obviously diet and dental care, but honestly I am perplexed.

He is scheduled for a cleaning and an extraction of two teeth if need be in a little over a week. Gums look good, but two funky teeth, he is not a hearty chewer either, although my other red and white was and she had this problem too. It is good to learn other people's feelings and experiences about this.

I hope you are feeling just a wee bit better today although I know it takes lots of time. Will keep you in my thoughts. If you are still contemplating some booze to help you deal with it, I will bring some tequila, although with the weather recently a nice frosty Lager or Guiness Stout might hit the spot here.

Take care of yourself!

you are so kind and yes, i'm feeling better.....sake and sushi...are a great combination....and i had some octopus to die for....and quail eggs on top of salmon roe....yummmmm..

i digress...i have given this much thought and i've been researching the relationship between starchy carbs with humans....because my honey has periodontal disease....it stands to reason that starchy carbs and dogs will most likely produce a similar reaction....sugar is the enemy for humans as well as dogs...

the vet said, when we almost scheduled all of her teeth to come out, that, she would do fine without them.......dogs don't chew anyway.....certainly kibble doesn't need to be broken down in the mouth...my vet said this; and, yet...has never ever suggested doing a full mouth extraction for any dog.
we slowed down my honey's progressive disease...and it is a disease by cutting out certain foods, like grains and potatoes....well, other than sushi night LOL....and our dogs get N O N E.

the four shih tzus....three out of four had crappy teeth..it's allegedly the nature of the breed....except for one thing...

i now have a pug..who is also a smushy faced dog.....when we first got him, he was going to need a dental this summer...we first had him on wellness super five barley/salmon/lamb or whatever and then he was on home cooked.
my corgi mix who always had decent teeth had to have a large tooth extraction three years ago and her teeth were showing signs of placque as of last september when we got bubba.

they have been on raw now since march-april....they were at the vet on saturday. they have not had one iota of starch or carb or anything but protein and fat for four months or so....

neither one needs a dental and their teeth are magnificent. his words, not mine.

so, at this point, i can come to only one conclusion...if stopping starchy starches and grains helps my husband, helps my two dogs....isn't that objective enough for the biggest skeptic?

AND....yes, i know my dog was old...but three years ago, we asked for options because her teeth were so bad....now, we were still ignorant about raw, but had they pulled her teeth as they do with humans....certainly, we could have maybe might have will never know if we could have prevented the extreme severe periodontal disease and the accompanying heart/liver/kidney/etc involvement.

on the other hand....and i guess the bright side of this is....we learned.

and got a little bit drunk.

and nichi now is in no pain....and i thank you. i know exactly what it means to not have children and to say my children have four legs....because they do...

[whiteleo]

Oh Re, much rather have flying fish eggs and quail eggs, salmon roe sucks! ICK Just had sushi with friends last week, and you'll never catch me eating uni, DOUBLE ICK.

Glad your feeling better, time will heal all.

Robin

[magicre]

Oh Re, much rather have flying fish eggs and quail eggs, salmon roe sucks! ICK Just had sushi with friends last week, and you'll never catch me eating uni, DOUBLE ICK.

Glad your feeling better, time will heal all.

Robin

we also had flying fish eggs, robin, so no worries there....WHAT? you don't eat octopus? sigh sigh sigh....

i had nigiri......with eel and octopus and flying eggs and quail eggs and salmon roe and tuna and salmon and oh my....i don't even remember all that chris served us....yum. yum.

i do feel better...sake always helps....

when i was in medical school and one of my fellows or myself even....killed a patient..and it happens....we'd go to the morbidity and morbundity sessions and have our cases dissected...and we'd learn what not to ever do again....not that it happened a whole lot...certainly less than people think...and probably more than people know :)..

i think this is along those lines....i learn. it sometimes takes something like this, but i learn.

[whiteleo]

Isn't uni sea urchin roe? asian delicacy that tastes like piss? Thats what I was referring to, no I eat everything else, aembi ebi is my favorite (sweet shrimp) with the heads.

Off to work I go.............