a reader of books
Warren Veteran
My dad took Casper to the vets today because his eye has been teary since Tuesday evening. It's the same eye as in November. The vet gave us some eye cream (it helped last time, but she said he might need it long term now), and she called me later to discuss and said that it seems like his tooth root(s) is blocking his tear duct. He also has molar spurs. 
So, he needs a dental to remove the spurs, which will also take some of the pressure of his tear duct, hopefully. Since he's still eating well the vet said we can wait until he has trouble eating, to give him more time between dentals, but in the past he's kept eating until he had a big wound on his tongue, so I worry about that happening again, and I think it's best to do the dental now that he's in good shape, rather than doing it when he's stopped eating and unwell. So, he has his dental next Wednesday, and they'll take an x-ray to see which root it is that's pressing on his tear duct, to see if it's possible to remove the tooth. I do find the thought of them removing the tooth scary, as that's more invasive than just removing the spurs, so I'll ask if they'll call me beforehand if they plan on doing so.
His last dental was in September, so they're not as regular as they've been in the past, thankfully. And he made it through that one okay, though it took him a long, long time to start eating properly again, but we never did find out if he had trouble eating back then because of dental pain or gut problems, so it might not have been related to the GA. The vet did say several times that it's risky because he's 10, but I don't see another way around it. If we don't do a dental he'll get too sore to eat. It does scare me, though, and it worries me that his roots are continuing to be pushed further and are causing more trouble. I asked the vet if there was something that could be done to make the GA safer, but then we got onto a different subject, so she never got around to answering. Does anyone know? I know blood tests can be done to see if he's in good enough shape for it, but I suppose it wouldn't change anything, since he does need the dental either way.
Thankfully, Casper seems to be feeling well. He's been binkying a lot, and he's still eating the same as normal, coming up to beg for treats the second I sit down in their room. I just worry about the future, since his roots will just get worse.
So, he needs a dental to remove the spurs, which will also take some of the pressure of his tear duct, hopefully. Since he's still eating well the vet said we can wait until he has trouble eating, to give him more time between dentals, but in the past he's kept eating until he had a big wound on his tongue, so I worry about that happening again, and I think it's best to do the dental now that he's in good shape, rather than doing it when he's stopped eating and unwell. So, he has his dental next Wednesday, and they'll take an x-ray to see which root it is that's pressing on his tear duct, to see if it's possible to remove the tooth. I do find the thought of them removing the tooth scary, as that's more invasive than just removing the spurs, so I'll ask if they'll call me beforehand if they plan on doing so.His last dental was in September, so they're not as regular as they've been in the past, thankfully. And he made it through that one okay, though it took him a long, long time to start eating properly again, but we never did find out if he had trouble eating back then because of dental pain or gut problems, so it might not have been related to the GA. The vet did say several times that it's risky because he's 10, but I don't see another way around it. If we don't do a dental he'll get too sore to eat. It does scare me, though, and it worries me that his roots are continuing to be pushed further and are causing more trouble. I asked the vet if there was something that could be done to make the GA safer, but then we got onto a different subject, so she never got around to answering. Does anyone know? I know blood tests can be done to see if he's in good enough shape for it, but I suppose it wouldn't change anything, since he does need the dental either way.
Thankfully, Casper seems to be feeling well. He's been binkying a lot, and he's still eating the same as normal, coming up to beg for treats the second I sit down in their room. I just worry about the future, since his roots will just get worse.
