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Frisbee and a $1200 Dental Bill!
2 years ago
General
“Things don't go wrong and break your heart so you can become bitter and give up. They happen to break you down and build you up so you can be all that you were intended to be.”
- Samuel Johnson
- Samuel Johnson
♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ✐ ♡ ✎ ♡ ...don't worry, this isn't a post asking for money to cover expenses. It's actually a post that I hope will help you guys out a little bit. Here we go!
So, I took Frisbee to the vet the other day for a check-up and to see why he was a little itchy. The vet was super cool and she, the vet tech, and Frisbee got along great! I told her that I found exactly 2 fleas on him when I got back from England in September. I gave him a flea treatment and a bath immediately, but it was October and he was still itchy. She recommended a different flea treatment that was edible and that, in conjunction with the monthly topical treatment he's on now seems to have worked. He is scratching much less and is generally more comfortable than he was after my "London in August" trip. ...I still want to go back. *crying*
Anyway! After assessing his skin, she gave him a general check-up and when she got to his teeth she said, "Woah! That one's gotta come out!" I was understandably distressed and asked which tooth she was referring to. She showed me one of his back teeth and...it was pretty rotten. I felt horribly for not having noticed, but she said that she sees this all the time and that it wasn't my fault. Most people don't notice because of an odd thing about dogs in which even if their teeth are bad, they will keep eating normally. So, there weren't any outward signs like him eating less or being lethargic from lack of food intake. Nothing was out of the ordinary. She also explained that breeding dogs have caused their teeth to be out of proportion with their skulls which also adds to this issue.
She told me that I was going to have to get the tooth removed and then told me the amount. Even she seemed to frustrated and sighed when she told me that the bill for simply removing the tooth was going to be around $1200. I audibly cried, "Jesus!" and felt my chest tightened. I had just come back from an expensive trip and didn't have the money to spare on such a tremendous expense. At the same time, though, I love my dog and knew that I had to do whatever it took to keep him healthy. He is about 14 years old, so I know that I won't be able to have him for much longer, so I want his final years to be happy and comfortable. So, I started shopping around to find an affordable pet dentist.
On Friday, my 5 year old nephew called me and said that they were going to Chuck E. Cheese and that he wanted me to come. I wasn't really feeling up to it, because the night before, I had an unexpected health issue where my heartrate suddenly plummeted and I collapsed onto the bathroom floor. I don't know if I passed out, or just fell asleep, but when I was able to function again, I was lying on the floor. I managed to get to my feet, crawl into bed, and went to sleep. This has happened to me before, so I wasn't terribly concerned, but it is the first time I potentially passed out. The plan was to spend the day in bed and just rest. But, I wanted to spend time with my nephew and my niece since I don't get to see them that often. ...and I am VERY glad that I did.
We went to a Chuck E. Cheese in a nearby shopping center that looked surprisingly brand new. I just walked around with the kids and helped them play a few games. I didn't have to do anything strenuous and everyone had a really good time. When we were getting ready to leave, I had noticed that there was a PetSmart in the shopping complex and wanted to check it out. I saw that they had a vet clinic inside and wanted to inquire about it, but I also wanted to get Frisbee a treat, because I was still feeling a little guilty about having not noticed his dental issues. The vet was closed so I wasn't able to get any information. I saw a little crinkle, squeaky toy that I knew Frisbee would like and that wouldn't drive me up a wall, so I picked it up. Then I thought, maybe I should get him something to chew on that would help to clean his teeth. I've tried brushing and using a dental spray, but he will not allow me to do it. It actually causes him to anxiety urinate. I don't know what people did to him before I adopted him, but when this happens, I know that I have to stop and give him space so that he understands that I am not hurting or in any way punishing him. Still, it is the reason why I never paid much attention to his teeth and, again, he has never exhibited any signs of mouth pain.
At any rate, I went to the area where dog chew things were and there was a sales clerk there. I explained to her my situation and she was quick to say, "Oh! You should just get him a bully stick. That'll get the tooth right out for sure!" The amazingly confident way she recommended the bully stick gave me real hope that it could help. So, I walked with her over to where they were, she pulled one off the shelf and my niece and I went to pay for it. (Off topic, but my niece wanted to say goodnight to the birds, but when she realized the toy I had for Frisbee squeaked, she changed her mind from saying goodnight to the birds to running up to the glass and incessantly squeaking the toy to wake them all up. Luckily...they were already awake. ...it was the rats that were napping and that I accidentally woke up. On another unrelated note...the rats were super cute.)
When I got home, I gave the toy to Frisbee and he immediately started playing with it. Then, I showed him the bully. Now, my little mutt is very particular. There are edible treats that he just doesn't like. I gave him the bully stick and he quickly took it and went into the living room. He dropped it on the floor, sniffed it, then looked at me, then sat down to sniff it a bit more. I called to him, as it was time for his evening walk. He galloped over to me, stopped, then hurried back to the living room to grab the bully stick, then hurried back to me. This was a huge relief! For context, Frisbee has NEVER done this! He's never had a treat that he was so fond of that he wanted it more than he wanted a walk. So, I wrestled it from him, tossed it to the side, and we went for a walk. When we got back, he quickly found the stick, ran into the living room, and started chewing.
The next morning, I looked in the living room and saw that the bully stick was now a bully nub. He had gone through more than half of it. We went for our morning walk, then came back. We had breakfast, then I went in the room to try to do a little writing. I was talking on the phone to a friend for nearly 2 and a half hours while I was in the room. When I hung up with her, I went into the kitchen to make a cup of instant vanilla latte that I bought while I was in England...it's almost gone. (ಥ﹏ಥ) ...but, my dismay at my dwindling coffee was quickly replaced by curiosity when I noticed something on my tile floor. I knelt down to investigate and couldn't believe it. I got a paper towel to examine it more closely to make sure I wasn't just wishful thinking I saw was what I saw...but it wasn't my eyes playing tricks on me, it was my precious little old man's rotten tooth, root and all!! I went over to check him out. He barely let me look into his mouth, but I had a treat in my hand so he knew that I wasn't doing anything bad and...he looked good. There was no swelling or bleeding, or anything! It was a clean removal and I couldn't have been happier!
I still need to take him to a pet dentist, but at least I won't have to pay for an extraction! They will have to check to make sure everything was removed cleanly and to see his other teeth as well. But, he's good. They told me that it's not an emergency and I'm waiting for them to get back to me with an estimate and an appointment date. So, my pup's medical fees went from $1200 down to a whopping $9.95...and whatever else his dental checkup is going to be. But, yeah, I consider this a huge blessing and thought it might help someone else who finds the precious pet in a situation similar to mine. I hope this (admittedly) long story was able to help someone, even a little bit. I did call the PetSmart and told the manager how thankful I was to that sales clerk and to please tell her how grateful I am to her. Vet expenses can be a little ridiculous, so any way that can help bring those costs down, I'm a fan.
Oh! Speaking of vet expenses, if you need to get your pet vaccinated, I HIGHLY recommend Petco. They have a vet clinic also, and their vaccination prices are half of what my vet's are. Don't get me wrong, I really like my vet, but I don't like their prices and my vet tends to agree with me. She doesn't set the prices, after all, and she doesn't blame me for wanting to shop around. Petco gives the exact same vaccines for a fraction of the price. If you have a Petco nearby, I recommend giving them a call. Even if there isn't one nearby, it might actually be more affordable to drive to one rather than paying a higher fee at a private veterinarian.
Well, that's all, folks! Thanks for reading and sorry for the length. Still, I hope it was interesting and informative. *waves* \ (•◡•) /
(｡◕‿‿◕｡)
So, I took Frisbee to the vet the other day for a check-up and to see why he was a little itchy. The vet was super cool and she, the vet tech, and Frisbee got along great! I told her that I found exactly 2 fleas on him when I got back from England in September. I gave him a flea treatment and a bath immediately, but it was October and he was still itchy. She recommended a different flea treatment that was edible and that, in conjunction with the monthly topical treatment he's on now seems to have worked. He is scratching much less and is generally more comfortable than he was after my "London in August" trip. ...I still want to go back. *crying*
Anyway! After assessing his skin, she gave him a general check-up and when she got to his teeth she said, "Woah! That one's gotta come out!" I was understandably distressed and asked which tooth she was referring to. She showed me one of his back teeth and...it was pretty rotten. I felt horribly for not having noticed, but she said that she sees this all the time and that it wasn't my fault. Most people don't notice because of an odd thing about dogs in which even if their teeth are bad, they will keep eating normally. So, there weren't any outward signs like him eating less or being lethargic from lack of food intake. Nothing was out of the ordinary. She also explained that breeding dogs have caused their teeth to be out of proportion with their skulls which also adds to this issue.
She told me that I was going to have to get the tooth removed and then told me the amount. Even she seemed to frustrated and sighed when she told me that the bill for simply removing the tooth was going to be around $1200. I audibly cried, "Jesus!" and felt my chest tightened. I had just come back from an expensive trip and didn't have the money to spare on such a tremendous expense. At the same time, though, I love my dog and knew that I had to do whatever it took to keep him healthy. He is about 14 years old, so I know that I won't be able to have him for much longer, so I want his final years to be happy and comfortable. So, I started shopping around to find an affordable pet dentist.
On Friday, my 5 year old nephew called me and said that they were going to Chuck E. Cheese and that he wanted me to come. I wasn't really feeling up to it, because the night before, I had an unexpected health issue where my heartrate suddenly plummeted and I collapsed onto the bathroom floor. I don't know if I passed out, or just fell asleep, but when I was able to function again, I was lying on the floor. I managed to get to my feet, crawl into bed, and went to sleep. This has happened to me before, so I wasn't terribly concerned, but it is the first time I potentially passed out. The plan was to spend the day in bed and just rest. But, I wanted to spend time with my nephew and my niece since I don't get to see them that often. ...and I am VERY glad that I did.
We went to a Chuck E. Cheese in a nearby shopping center that looked surprisingly brand new. I just walked around with the kids and helped them play a few games. I didn't have to do anything strenuous and everyone had a really good time. When we were getting ready to leave, I had noticed that there was a PetSmart in the shopping complex and wanted to check it out. I saw that they had a vet clinic inside and wanted to inquire about it, but I also wanted to get Frisbee a treat, because I was still feeling a little guilty about having not noticed his dental issues. The vet was closed so I wasn't able to get any information. I saw a little crinkle, squeaky toy that I knew Frisbee would like and that wouldn't drive me up a wall, so I picked it up. Then I thought, maybe I should get him something to chew on that would help to clean his teeth. I've tried brushing and using a dental spray, but he will not allow me to do it. It actually causes him to anxiety urinate. I don't know what people did to him before I adopted him, but when this happens, I know that I have to stop and give him space so that he understands that I am not hurting or in any way punishing him. Still, it is the reason why I never paid much attention to his teeth and, again, he has never exhibited any signs of mouth pain.
At any rate, I went to the area where dog chew things were and there was a sales clerk there. I explained to her my situation and she was quick to say, "Oh! You should just get him a bully stick. That'll get the tooth right out for sure!" The amazingly confident way she recommended the bully stick gave me real hope that it could help. So, I walked with her over to where they were, she pulled one off the shelf and my niece and I went to pay for it. (Off topic, but my niece wanted to say goodnight to the birds, but when she realized the toy I had for Frisbee squeaked, she changed her mind from saying goodnight to the birds to running up to the glass and incessantly squeaking the toy to wake them all up. Luckily...they were already awake. ...it was the rats that were napping and that I accidentally woke up. On another unrelated note...the rats were super cute.)
When I got home, I gave the toy to Frisbee and he immediately started playing with it. Then, I showed him the bully. Now, my little mutt is very particular. There are edible treats that he just doesn't like. I gave him the bully stick and he quickly took it and went into the living room. He dropped it on the floor, sniffed it, then looked at me, then sat down to sniff it a bit more. I called to him, as it was time for his evening walk. He galloped over to me, stopped, then hurried back to the living room to grab the bully stick, then hurried back to me. This was a huge relief! For context, Frisbee has NEVER done this! He's never had a treat that he was so fond of that he wanted it more than he wanted a walk. So, I wrestled it from him, tossed it to the side, and we went for a walk. When we got back, he quickly found the stick, ran into the living room, and started chewing.
The next morning, I looked in the living room and saw that the bully stick was now a bully nub. He had gone through more than half of it. We went for our morning walk, then came back. We had breakfast, then I went in the room to try to do a little writing. I was talking on the phone to a friend for nearly 2 and a half hours while I was in the room. When I hung up with her, I went into the kitchen to make a cup of instant vanilla latte that I bought while I was in England...it's almost gone. (ಥ﹏ಥ) ...but, my dismay at my dwindling coffee was quickly replaced by curiosity when I noticed something on my tile floor. I knelt down to investigate and couldn't believe it. I got a paper towel to examine it more closely to make sure I wasn't just wishful thinking I saw was what I saw...but it wasn't my eyes playing tricks on me, it was my precious little old man's rotten tooth, root and all!! I went over to check him out. He barely let me look into his mouth, but I had a treat in my hand so he knew that I wasn't doing anything bad and...he looked good. There was no swelling or bleeding, or anything! It was a clean removal and I couldn't have been happier!
I still need to take him to a pet dentist, but at least I won't have to pay for an extraction! They will have to check to make sure everything was removed cleanly and to see his other teeth as well. But, he's good. They told me that it's not an emergency and I'm waiting for them to get back to me with an estimate and an appointment date. So, my pup's medical fees went from $1200 down to a whopping $9.95...and whatever else his dental checkup is going to be. But, yeah, I consider this a huge blessing and thought it might help someone else who finds the precious pet in a situation similar to mine. I hope this (admittedly) long story was able to help someone, even a little bit. I did call the PetSmart and told the manager how thankful I was to that sales clerk and to please tell her how grateful I am to her. Vet expenses can be a little ridiculous, so any way that can help bring those costs down, I'm a fan.
Oh! Speaking of vet expenses, if you need to get your pet vaccinated, I HIGHLY recommend Petco. They have a vet clinic also, and their vaccination prices are half of what my vet's are. Don't get me wrong, I really like my vet, but I don't like their prices and my vet tends to agree with me. She doesn't set the prices, after all, and she doesn't blame me for wanting to shop around. Petco gives the exact same vaccines for a fraction of the price. If you have a Petco nearby, I recommend giving them a call. Even if there isn't one nearby, it might actually be more affordable to drive to one rather than paying a higher fee at a private veterinarian.
Well, that's all, folks! Thanks for reading and sorry for the length. Still, I hope it was interesting and informative. *waves* \ (•◡•) /
(｡◕‿‿◕｡)
When's your goal for heading back to England again?
Honestly, I want to go back to hear the London Philharmonic perform. They weren't performing any concerts while I was there, but I would like to hear them in person at least once. ...also the Boston Philharmonic, now that I think about it. My sister lives in Boston. I need to check into that. (checks) Oh! It looks like they have a violin concerto in February. I will see if I can make that. ^̮^
Is anyone in the fam still in NY?
Well, I have family in NY, but my immediate family in the tri-state area are in NJ.
Were you the only one left in the five boroughs?
I had an extraction done on my Cami last year. It was in the same ballpark. She has no interest in chewies, anyway, and I'd be afraid she'd try to swallow it (she tends to do that with rawhide). Now I need to take her somewhere and have a manicure done...