Ollie's getting teeth cleaned today!

[weezyNollie]

Ollie is going in for his first dental prophy today. We are also going to investigate his bloodwork.

Once again, pre-anesthetic blood work can find things before they go wrong. He has an elevated Cholesterol, hinting at a thyroid problem. We are going to retest the CHOL today and then if it's high again, send off for a thyroid panel.

Shelties are on the market for hypothyroidisim. But, i've seen dogs with hypothyroid that haven't been treated or it's been unnoticed. They are MISERABLE. So, if Ollie is going to have it.. I'd rather nip it in the butt and start meds sooner than later.

Of course.. another dog with a treatable disorder. This makes all three of my animals not 100% healthy.

Louise: Addisons, IBD, Low Cobalamin
Ollie: poss. hypothyroid, hx of broken tibial with poss future arthritis or patella probs
Mr. Tumnus (the cat): feline acne

WHY ME!?

[fairlight]

You're lucky...some vets won't even run a blood test and will put the dog out for a teeth cleaning. Ollie will probably be a bit listless when you pick him up, bit give him a day or two and he will be back to normal. It's almost time to have Oso's teeth cleaned again. When we got him last year his teeth were so ****** and he was only 5 years old. No tartar build up now, but I will still have his teeth cleaned yearly.

[Deb's Tiny Dogs]

Have you heard of a product called Oravet? You start using it right away just after having your dog's teeth cleaned. It's a waxy substance that goes on your dog's teeth and gums and helps seal them from plaque, etc. It lasts about a week then you do it again. Of course, it works best if you're brushing your dog's teeth.

I'm using it on Miko's teeth now (the 6 he has left any way).

The dentist at University of Missouri said they're having good luck with this product.

[weezyNollie]

Originally Posted by fairlight

You're lucky...some vets won't even run a blood test and will put the dog out for a teeth cleaning. Ollie will probably be a bit listless when you pick him up, bit give him a day or two and he will be back to normal. It's almost time to have Oso's teeth cleaned again. When we got him last year his teeth were so ****** and he was only 5 years old. No tartar build up now, but I will still have his teeth cleaned yearly.

Actually.. i work at the vet clinic. We do require pre-anesthetic blood work for anything going under anesthesia in the hospital. Unless it's locals for mass removals or rodents/sugar gliders.

I was able to work up Ollie's anesthetic protocol, so he woke up perfect. I used a low dose of an analgesic, and a sedative, and minimal induction for gas anesthesia. I normally work in the surgery department, so I work up all sorts of patients all the time. From minor surgeries to cardiac surgeries.
He was groggy for a bit afterwards, but by 2-3 he was back to normal. And by the evening he was barking and bringing me the ball.

His teeth weren't that bad! His back molars were pretty caked with calculus, but not anymore! No extractions, loose teeth, or any other abnormalities. He also was missing a molar. Never came in, I guess. Another proof of genetic defect Ollie.

Then, the GOOD news! We retested his Cholesterol in house, and it was normal! So phew. No worries of hypothyroidism anymore. Plus, he has absolutely no signs. Not gaining excessive weight, no lethargy, no loss of hair. YAY!

As for OraVet. We use that product at work. But the key is.. you have to have the application put on after a dental. You cannot start the follow up care on uncleaned/polished teeth. Only one of our doctors uses it, and the doctor that I chose to oversee his dental was one that does not. It's not a big deal to me, because I'd be bad at the follow up. Let's be honest, I sometimes forget Louise's prednisone tab.. let alone putting something on Ollie's teeth! But he's only 2 yrs 7 mos, so he's off to a good start. If i can keep up the dentals every year and half or so, he should be fine.

[mara]

Glad to hear he came through everything just fine!!!

Just curious....if the high cholesterol could be a sign of hypothyroidism why didn't you run a thyroid panel??

[weezyNollie]

We were going to after retesting the chemistry in house. If it was high again, then I was going to send off for a thyroid panel. But based on Ollie's age, and lack of signs.. it might have been a waste of money. The internist told me the earliest she has ever diagnosed hypothyroidism in a dog is 2 yrs old. Ollie is only 2 and half. And has no signs of it. So when the CHOL came back normal this time, his doctor and I decided to skip it this time around.

[mara]

OH OK,thanks!