All my money goes to my Vet! LOL

This morning, I dropped Mandy off for a dental.  When she was in 10 days ago for a routine check, she had one bad tooth and a huge wad of tartar built up on a rear tooth.  Mandy is still basically a feral cat, even though she has lived inside with me for 10 years.  No chance of scraping off the wad, even at the vet's, to see what may be underneath.  Mandy had a dental last year, so this is getting to be a habit!  Mandy routinely goes 'airplane ears' and that is a sign she is preparing to bite.  I did remind them of this when I dropped her off.

I also dropped off one of the dogs, Riley, for a dental.

And I ordered more of the eye drops my dog Willy needs for life for chronic eye issues.

I also requested a new med for 2 of the dogs who freak out at bath time (I groom them myself) and for the groomer when I take them in every 5 weeks or so for nails to be trimmed.

I needed some info on the asthma meds for Tommy; looks like he can't be on an every other day pill routine, I've tried, he gets all congested and starts coughing again.  So he will need a pill daily.  This is a new diagnosis with Tommy, so still sorting things out.  As I need to pill him daily, I needed a refill, ordered that and will pick up when I return later today.

Finally, when I got pick up the 2 dental patients, I will take Emma in for a check with the loose stool issue.

At least February is dental care month and there is a 10% discount on those 2 procedures!

I know that feeling, lol. I have CareCredit and it feels like every time I pay off the balance something else happens.

So far this year I had annual exams/vaccines, abscess, two surgeries for a broken leg and an emergency cast removal when it got twisted.

Link will likely need a dental cleaning after his annual this year (August)  and Rocket refused to open her mouth at the last exam but at a year old the vet decided it would be okay to not force it so we will see this year. I thought about just doing the dental this month because my vet does the same but I am still paying off the last round of vet bills so I'll just wait. 

I know how you feel.  I have two geriatric cats who still have good quality of life, one of them has a chronic condition.  I took the one with the chronic condition in about 3 weeks ago for a routine check.  After three visits and a little over a thousand dollars I am finished with him for a little while.  

Look into adding xylitol to their drinking water, it's a natural plant sugar.  It is ever so effective at preventing dental decay:

https://authoritynutrition.com/xylitol-101/

There are a number of specially prepared veterinary dental liquids on the market.  They are quite pricey but I expect the cost of prevention is greatly balanced by the cost of cure. 

UPDATED:  Hmmmm, scratch that idea, as it appears it is toxic to dogs.  I wonder why there are so many pet dental preparations that contain it?  It would be good for your cats but you wouldn't be able to stop your dogs from drinking their water.  I'd still look into it though, out of curiosity.....

Brian007 said:

Look into adding xylitol to their drinking water, it's a natural plant sugar.  It is ever so effective at preventing dental decay:

https://authoritynutrition.com/xylitol-101/

There are a number of specially prepared veterinary dental liquids on the market.  They are quite pricey but I expect the cost of prevention is greatly balanced by the cost of cure. 

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Do NOT give xylitol to animals! It is very dangerous and toxic. It's been in the news lately because it is used in a few peanut butter brands and people had given it to their dogs unknowingly. Cats usually won't eat it anyway, but keep it away from them to be safe!

Yeah, I just found that out.  You must have read my post the second before I updated it.  Thanks for your vigilance and for posting the warning.  

Yes Xylitol is a huge issue as it is in sugar free gum.  Do you know how many wads of gum my dogs find on the ground when we are out hiking?!  I have to wrestle to get it out of the mouth every time. 

I've had 2 calls from the vet.

They worked on my dog first; Riley had to have 4 major extractions - 3 of the 4 canines, plus one 3-root molar.  As of the second call, she is doing well, just coming out of anesthesia.  The second call was due to they are now working on Mandy.

Cat Mandy will need at least 2 extractions, and she is full of mucus.  They asked to do a test for Bortadella (I said OK) and they asked about FIV - she tested negative when she was caught as a 4 month old kitten, she has been a house cat ever since, and she is now age 10 years.  So unlikely.  I asked if the mucus could be a result of her teeth issues, yes it is possible.  Mandy had a dental and 5 extraction about a year back, with this same vet.

My mum has had cats who've had all their teeth removed, and who have been much happier for it  

Poor Mandy, I'm thinking healing thoughts for her    

And, I'm thinking of you too, it's an absolutely horrid, worrisome feeling, waiting for 'the call' whilst your pet is having an operation    

OUCH!  This was a big bill.  But, that is what happens when you take them all in on one day.

Emma had blood work, hyperthyroid is suspect.  For now, meds to treat symptom, blood was drawn.  Have to drop her off next Tues morning so they can get a urine sample; she was dry tonight.

Riley was HUNGRY!  Didn't act like she'd had surgery, with 4 major extractions!  Came home said hello to the other dogs, ate (small portion) and been sound asleep since.

Mandy and Emma are in their room with the door closed.

Just need to give Riley 1 pill tonight and done.    However the morning will be interesting.  In addition to Willy's morning eye drops:
- Riley gets 2 pills
- Emma gets 1 pill
- Mandy gets a liquid shot in to her mouth
- Tommy gets 1 pill

THEN I can start getting all the breakfasts!  Mandy and Riley are not allowed any hard food until after their 2 week recheck.  They both have dissolvable sutures.