Avoid Dental Disasters - Vida's Dental Part 1

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Want to strike fear in the hear of an average dog owner?

Cancer? Sure. 
Vaccines? Most likely.
Dental Care? Yep.

Surprised that dental care would be up there with cancer and vaccines? 

Many people avoid dealing with their dog's teeth. They never really look in there - it's one big mystery. Most don't train their dogs to accept brushing, and they're relieved because who wants to hassle with that every day? And people are definitely worried about putting their dog under anesthesia.

I fell for most of those traps myself. 

Vida was eagerly chewing and eating a duck neck the day before she had 17 teeth removed.  I had no idea she had some much going on in there! I knew dogs hid pain - had I been kidding myself over the last couple of years? Less toy playing, less vigorous chewing? It's not just old age! 

I'd found one bad tooth over the summer, one of her lower premolars. I wasn't too surprised that at the age of 15 she might finally have some problems with lower teeth because of the radiation treatment she had five years ago. Clearly I had waited too long to really do something about it.

I'd had non-anesthesia cleaning done a few times, but not in the past year - she was just so stressed about it, and it was in my mind that I really should get a dental x-ray done so see if the radiation had done damage. But like most people I kept putting it off while I started brushing a few days a week and using an oral spray to help prevent tartar. 

I brought Vida in for an appointment as soon as I got back from New Hampshire to have Dr. Bausone look at her mouth and discuss the dental procedure and what I expected from them. They had what I wanted: dental xray, the best anesthesia (propofol and sevoflourine), monitoring during anesthesia (it took 4 hours, so it's essential to have them ready for that), and allowing me to handle pain relief at home (though I discovered to late that she also got an injection of Rimadyl, grrrr). 



Who knew I was going to spend the day in the vet's waiting room? It's 30 miles away so I had planned to wait, but I really thought it would only be a half-day. I was given updates on how she was doing (including the long wait before they started), which I was grateful for. While I waited I read the perfect book for a veterinary waiting room  - a book of healing meditations. I had it on my Kindle and it was a wonderful respite to sit quietly and center myself and picture my dog whole, healthy, and happy. Sending Reiki and doing these meditations helped me remain calm throughout the day (despite seeing so many dogs and cats coming in for vaccinations throughout the day!).

Part Two: How did it go?

Cancer: Remembering to trust Mother Nature

Part Two of the Tumor Saga.

If you look back at Part One of the Tumor Saga you can sense the urgency as I confronted something for the first time. I'd never seen the inside of a tumor before. I didn't know how the injury would heal - would it act differently than a normal skin wound?

Well it turns out that in fact it has healed like a normal skin wound, and very quickly.

Cancer: sometimes it demands your attention

I just landed in New Hampshire for the summer after the usual cross-country drive from San Diego. Half-way there I had to deal with a tumor of Vida's and it wasn't pretty. If you insist that your squeamish then don't read further, but if you learn something from my experience it will be worth taking a look.

Summer Herbs

Getting ready for the summer means packing for  road trip and shifting herbs. While Vida is on some other herbs for specific conditions, she also gets a tonic and nutritive formula that changes throughout the year. During the summer I usually simplify it a lot, and focus on nutrition, immune system, and adaptogenics.

Back in 2011 I blogged about her summer herb blend, and it's not too different really, just a difference in proportion due to her age and current particulars.

Astragalus: for strengthening Qi, providing energy while preventing Summer Heat, and in Western terms strengthening the immune system.

Reishi: Adaptogenic, immune balancing, good for the kidneys and lungs.

Chlorella: Nutritive!

Billbery: Antioxidant, good for the eyes in particular (and Vida has a recent condition in one of her eyes I'm hoping to at least stop progress on). This fruit is similar to blueberries so they have the benefits of all deep purple fruits.

Nettles: Nutritive, antihistamine. Pine pollen seems to be a bit of a problem for her and we're literally sleeping among pines, but the phenols are so good for us all. Have you read about forest bathing? We all know walks in the woods are relaxing, but they can actually improve your immune system.

My photo was a little blurry because making up her formula for the summer was just part of packing for the road. She also had her hotel bedroll packed up.

Vida Approves: learning to use earth energy through crystals & stones

In my last post I wrote about Vida and her request for gentler energetic healing. What she was really saying was "stop trying so hard," something that probably happens a lot to dogs when people are trying to offer love and healing. We humans often overdo it with dogs because we have such a hard time stopping and listening. Just being present is not something most of practice much. Slowing down our frame of reference for time and effect and simply allowing change to unfold at it's own pace.

Energy Healing: "soft like a child" says Vida

I witnessed an amazing scene with Vida today that just made me wonder - how much are we missing in our day to day interactions with our dogs?