Puppy tooth abcess

LAdobeldy · 06-16-2008, 07:48 PM

I came back from running errands today. Stella was fine when I crated her, came home 2.5 hours later and notice that the left side of her face was swollen. I checked, no visible wounds but it did hurt her when I touched it, gum is all swollen. I waited a few hours (hubby calls it obsessing about it) and called my regular vet.

Stella has a chipped tooth and the vet feels that it is an abscess. She will lose that tooth in about 4 weeks (normal puppy tooth loss). At first she suggested anti's and pain meds. Then she came back in the room saying that veterinary dentists recommend removal of the tooth. Then she wanted to knock her out tomorrow and aspirate it to see what kind of bacteria is in it. She also told me she will be going on vacation next week but has a vet coming in to take her place. My vet is very cautious and runs every test possible. No matter the age of the animal, any time an animal is put under she requires a pre anesthesia blood work to the tune of 70.00.

Stella is running a temp of 103
She is eating, drinking, eliminating normally and is playing, but has slept more today.

I have decided to hold off and give the antis a chance to work. We see her ear cropping vet on Friday. When I had her ears cropped and was filling out the paperwork they had me fill out the pre anesthesia blood work forms. The next day when we picked her up, my ear cropping vet told me, " I didn't run the pre anesthesia blood work, it's a waste of your money on a healthy young puppy having elective surgery" I about fell on the floor. He told me "I'm just an old country vet and call them like I see them"

The above incident and other things have me questioning my regular vets judgment. I felt that after she came back from researching she was trying to pressure me into getting it done. I've also been told by many, many people that I pay way too much for vet services. Neutering my 11# dog with no complications cost $267.00 3 years ago.

I want the best for Stella, yet I don't want to be taken advantage of either.

Anyone every had a puppy almost ready to lose a tooth with an abcess?

Please forgive the long post. I really am in a quandary.

Oh and she's on antriobe (3 weeks) and Rimadyl (2 day supply)

**dobermansrule** · 06-16-2008, 08:11 PM

you need to trust your veterinarian. If you feel taken advantage of, is there another vet you can go to, hopefully one highly referred by friends/family?

Do you know your pup's VWd status? I guess since the country vet didn't do the preanesthesia bloodwork and there were no issues from cropping, then you pup is not a bleeder. Do you know for sure?

And sorry, no experience with tooth absesses. It seems to me they would yank it to make sure the adult tooth comes in ok and to clear up the infection, but I don't know.

**berkshire** · 06-16-2008, 08:16 PM

I just had a rotation with a visiting veterinary dentist. He stressed the importance of removing damaged puppy teeth as they can cause permanent damage to the adult tooth.

I personally would have bloodwork done, since she's legitimately sick this time. All that bacteria from the abscess is being showered to the rest of her body.

**Doberdog** · 06-17-2008, 02:15 PM

I would have it removed and do the blood work. Keep in mind that infections of the teeth can cause heart problems that don't go away when the tooth is fixed, so the sooner the better. Good luck and please keep us posted. I will say a prayer for Stella.

zeus and me · 06-18-2008, 08:58 AM

zeus woke up today with a abcessed tooth also! his lower jaw is all swollen

I put in a call to my vet....she is out on farm calls. so I will be waiting for her call

LAdobeldy · 06-19-2008, 12:30 PM

After typing it all out Monday night, (Husband is offshore, so no one to hash it over with) I decided to have it pulled. My regular vet has always been spot on with my animals, and I shouldn't have doubted her.

Stella had her tooth pulled Tuesday, and all the blood work came back perfect.

I had her home late Tuesday evening, it was like someone gave her a shot of some kind of energy drink!

The vet even sent the tooth home in case the tooth fairy came to get it. I just wonder how long it has been bothering her? She showed no symptoms until Monday afternoon.

Thanks all for the advice, and "listening." Being alone 2 weeks every month, you sometimes just need a sounding board.

zeus and me · 06-19-2008, 01:12 PM

took zeus in today and my vet didnt think it was his tooth....but she wasnt real sure what it was. so he got a shot of penicillen and some antibiotics. glad stella is feeling better

LAdobeldy · 06-19-2008, 02:16 PM

When Stella started swelling on Monday I had no idea it was her tooth, it looked fine. However, the chip was way up by the gum line and once the tooth was pulled on the inside of the molar was all discolored. You couldn't see the chip but when my vet ran her fingernail over it you could hear it. Funny how something so simple can turn out to be something bad very quickly.

Hope your Zeuse feels better quickly!

Linda H · 06-20-2008, 11:33 AM

I am borrowing this from another thread where I posted, but I wanted to emphasize the point about dogs hiding bad teeth. Glad you puppy is doing well now and you learned a valuable lesson. Actually regular dental checkups are recommended too.

"I just got thru reading the Whole Dog Journal July issue and they had an article about dentistry in canines. It was very interesting and very, very enlightening.
It was written by a woman who met with a couple of other agility people at the events and one of them took her dog to a dog dentist. Next time they met, about three weeks later, she told them about her dogs work that had to be done. Soooo the writer decided to take her 10 yr old border terrier in (dentist in her area)and found out he had two broken teeth, premolars, I believe one had abcessed (my memory fails me) and a loose incisor that had to be pulled.
I can't remember all the details, but her dog had a lot wrong with his mouth and she never knew anything was wrong with him. Dogs are stoic and hide things that are wrong with them (goes back to "in the wild"). After she got his mouth fixed she said it was like you had taken 5 yrs off his age because he was ripping and roaring around like a young dog again.
Apparently it is wise to take them to a dog dentist or at least find out it your vet has had dentistry in vet school and not a weekly seminar. It also has to do with the equipment a dentist has that prevents aspiration of dental bacteria into the lungs during the mouthwork.
I learned quiet a bit, even if I can't remember most of it now.......but I can reread the article and remember it again for another 10 mins."
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