Dogs- Teeth Cleaning and Calcy's Surgery

It's been a full month for our poor dogs!  Both of our dogs are over 9 years old now, and they had never had their teeth cleaned professionally. We had several vets recommend this happen, so we finally made them appointments for January 16.

I found myself a little nervous taking them in to go under anesthesia, but thank goodness they both did very well. 

Poor Bella had several issues with her teeth. Apparently tennis balls are like sandpaper for their enamel, and anyone who knows Bella, knows that she is absolutely obsessed with tennis balls! We can't even have them in our house because she goes so crazy for them. She has worn most her teeth way down (little stubs!), and had to have 9 teeth removed! I did learn that most dogs have around 42 teeth though, so she still has plently teeth to eat! 

Also, when she was about 3 years old, we were playing fetch in freezing cold Oklahoma (at the Russell farm), and she knocked one of her teeth out with the frozen ball- or so I thought. Apparently, only the top of the tooth got broken off - Poor Bella!! So this was one of the extractions - the bottom half of the tooth I thought was gone. 

She was given a weeks worth of antibiotics and painkillers just in case. 

Calcy's teeth were in better shape, but she also needed a good cleaning. She only had to have one tooth extracted, so she didn't need painkillers or antibiotics.
But poor Calcy had a growth on her left leg so they took a biopsy while she was under getting her teeth cleaned.  Sadly, the biopsy came back cancerous. So we had to schedule a follow up appointment to get the entire lump removed. To be updated....

They were both still out of it when I picked them up at Firehouse Animal Health Center.  Thank goodness Aunt Patsy was in town and able to help me with the boys (and hold Bella on the way home) so I could go in to review their x-rays and discuss care with the vet. 

We got Calcy's surgery scheduled for Valentine's Day. The extraction of the lump went as well as we could have hoped for- she got it all in a clean scoop (no attachment to the bone or muscle). We are getting the entire tumor sent it for a full diagnosis, but for now, our sweet Calcy is home and recovering well! Will update again when we learn more!