Tooth Extraction Elderly Labrador

[Louie25]

Evening All, my elderly Labrador, Drew (14) had a swollen face yesterday and I took him to the vets where they think he has an abscess. He was prescribed antibiotics and pain relief and will need to go back in a week for a dental operation.
Has anyone on here had experience of their dog having had an operation when so old (vet thinks he’s fit enough for it)? I suspect he will be needing a few teeth extracted as they don’t look great. I’m worried how he will manage and how I will cope when I see the bill!

 

[The Wino]

There's little option otherwise so if he was my hound I'd take the vets advice

 

[pampam]

You are so kind to let him have his teeth out(paying for it i mean) i had an old terrier who had extractions and managed fine (and her breath improved dramatically ) surely the vet will have checked him to make sure hes fit enough? Good luck to you both pampam

 

[Janine]

My cocker spaniel was about 12 when he had 13 teeth out and made an amazing recovery.

If the vet thinks that Drew’s heart is strong enough for the anaesthetic, I think he’ll be ok.

 

[Louie25]

Thank you, it’s a worry when he’s so old. But he is fit and healthy even if his back legs are a little wobbly

Here is a photo of him in his prime, such a beautiful dog

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[shawn&emma]

Our 15 year old labradoodle had 14 teeth out last September, gave her a real boost, eating better, no smelly breath any more.
We were worried if she’d be able to cope having the anaesthetic. She had a assessment first with just being knocked out for short while and in hindsight she should have stayed at the vets a little longer before they sent her home as she wasn’t in a good way that night, struggled standing and whimpered around for a while but the actual removal operation she was a lot stronger that first evening and the next day a different dog, she’s a trooper.
It wasn’t cheap but if It was going to give her a better quality of life, which it has, we wanted to go for it.
The vet believed that she could cope with the procedure, but of course there is always that risk.
Now the scary bit……..around the £1300 mark. She’s not insured either.

 

[Louie25]

Our 15 year old labradoodle had 14 teeth out last September, gave her a real boost, eating better, no smelly breath any more.
We were worried if she’d be able to cope having the anaesthetic. She had a assessment first with just being knocked out for short while and in hindsight she should have stayed at the vets a little longer before they sent her home as she wasn’t in a good way that night, struggled standing and whimpered around for a while but the actual removal operation she was a lot stronger that first evening and the next day a different dog, she’s a trooper.
It wasn’t cheap but if It was going to give her a better quality of life, which it has, we wanted to go for it.
The vet believed that she could cope with the procedure, but of course there is always that risk.
Now the scary bit……..around the £1300 mark. She’s not insured either.

View attachment 732782

She is gorgeous! It’s great to know her quality of life has been improved I know it’s going to be expensive, Drew isn’t insured either. I am of the opinion if he had have been insured it would probably have cost me more over the years for the insurance rather than this one big cost.

 

[Langtoftlad]

Now the scary bit……..around the £1300 mark.

That sounds very expensive - I just looked, my vet charged me £216 in 2020 for "too many to count" extractions for Kerry. That was after a 20% discount for being part of a healthcare plan.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Took our 2 Jacks to the vets last year as they had very bad breath.
Cannot remember exactly how many teeth they had out but was about 7-8 each, had their nails clipped and a full check up.
Was around £600 for both including painkillers.
They are 15 years old now and both relatively fit

 

[pampam]

Drew has an abcess too so there might be more to it than a quick extraction?
By the way i think he looks just as handsome with his "touch of grey" he has a lovely face Pampam

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[Littlewheels]

I am or my dog is going through the exact same thing in about a week, l have been told it’s not unusual for them to come back with no teeth as apparently once the plaque and such is removed some are nearly falling out of their own accord. Fingers crossed for both of us.

 

[Threeracers]

I went through the same at the beginning of the year and I was worried too. My mutt is ten and was scheduled for fourteen teeth to be removed but a couple were hard work and they decided to stop after ten. The remaining four were done four weeks later.

He healed well, much easier recovery the second time and now seems to be fine.

Although I thought he showed no signs of discomfort previously he wasn't keen on his face being touched and now doesn't mind so I feel a bit guilty for not doing it sooner, I guess they were hurting before and he was just being brave.

Fingers crossed for you.

Mark

 

[Littlewheels]

I am or my dog is going through the exact same thing in about a week, l have been told it’s not unusual for them to come back with no teeth as apparently once the plaque and such is removed some are nearly falling out of their own accord. Fingers crossed for both of us.

I am absolutely lost without my little Pal,so used to looking down and he’s there 24/7, dropped him off at Vet 10.00am, awaiting being able to collect him at 1.30pm.

 

[Littlewheels]

He’s back but well shaken from the anaesthetic even now ten hours later he struggles to walk, he’s eaten and done his toilet with a struggle, a good night’s sleep’s will hopefully work wonders.
complete tooth overall,two teeth out,one badly infected so antibiotic injection and tablets for ten days,a pain killer injection that lasts a month all at a total cost of €130. You certainly do not get ripped off in Spain.

 

[BooBooKing]

How is the old boy getting on?

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[Littlewheels]

He’s back to his old self and as calmed down with his aggression which appears to have come partly through being in pain.

He‘s always been difficult to handle if you needed to attend to say a thorn in his paw, he will not let you near him and yet he likes to lay on my lap for a stroke and ear tickle.

 

[Littlewheels]

How is the old boy getting on?

Apologies to the OP l have just realised this post was aimed at your goodself.