Thursday 10 March 2016

Tess

Tess is home again.   She had the tartar removed from her teeth and also had four teeth removed.  (as dogs have forty-seven teeth the vet says four should make no difference).

At present she has half wet/half dry food but the vet recommends all dry from now on.   She wont like it but will no doubt get used to it in a day or two.   She has also given her some capsules to sprinkle on her food to combat the skin condition she gets every year, when she scratches a lot, has very dry skin and licks her feet continually.

The vet is concerned about her teeth as they came out so easily.   I had a thought last evening.   I am ashamed to say that every bedtime, when my husband is having his two Rich Tea biscuits with his Ovaltine, he also gives Tess a Rich Tea.   I wonder if the sugar content is responsible for the teeth problem, so he will eat his two biscuits in the kitchen while he is getting the bedtime drink in future so that she doesn't get any.

She was very sleepy when she came home, but ate the tiny bit of recommended wet food and also (a friend recommended this) a bowl of slightly warm skimmed milk (she thoroughly enjoyed this and it has a lot of calcium in it).

This morning she still hasn't forgiven us, but she has been on her morning walk, but on the lead this time.  I feel sure that by this evening she will be back to normal.

After a day yesterday when it never stopped raining, today has heavy cloud and it is still cold.   Better, warmer weather is forecast, so I live in hopes.   It is the farmer's walk on Saturday and friend W and I are going out for lunch.   So many places to choose from - so the big problem is where to go.

21 comments:

Yorkshire Pudding said...

May I suggest "The Chippie" - Main Street, Hawes. A sophisticated dining venue which you and your friends will surely enjoy.... Nice to hear that Tess is back and ready for a few changes.

Dawn said...

Poor Tess they just dont understand its for there own good, Sol had a tooth out last year but it was one that was broken, he always has a carrot every day to chew it helps clean there teeth and is better for them than those dentastix things that are full of calories, we have to refer to carrots as snowman noses in this house as soon as the C word is mentioned he runs straight to the fridge, hope Tess forgives you soon :-)

Joanne Noragon said...

Our terrier gets a bite of most every veggie being prepared in the kitchen. One terrier was so addicted we found him pulling down an asparagus stalk or digging up a tater to eat.

donna baker said...

Ive heard terriers like Tess tend to have tooth problems. My weenies wouldn't touch a vegetable. I wish they were't so picky as mealtime is always a chore, trying to persuade them to eat so Sister can have her insulin injection.

SandyExpat said...

Glad Tess is back and very loved by you and the Farmer.

"Rich Tea biscuits" so reminded me of my mum who always had them in the pantry and enjoyed with a cup of tea which had to be Indian Prince (from the coop) - as children we were always hoping for what we called "fancy biscuits" suppose that dates me. How things have changed.

Midmarsh John said...

Penny, having had three lots of teeth removed, sympathises and says she knows how Tess feels. We also indulge in the occasional Rich Tea biscuit though Penny only has a thumb nail size piece.

Simon Douglas Thompson said...

Poor old daog, remember when our two went to cat dentist...no fun there! And they weren't denied biscuits afterwards!

Jennifer said...

Poor baby. And good luck getting forgiveness when she has to eat all dry food and no biscuits before bedtime!

Mac n' Janet said...

She has my sympathy, I don't enjoy dental visits either. The vet says that Miss Kitty needs her teeth cleaned too, but it's too expensive, I'm looking into dry food for tartar control, she loves dry food.

Frances said...

Weaver, your biscuit theory might be on the money. I hope that sweet Tess will soon get used to the new dietary arrangements. At least she will have lots of pretty spring days to enjoy outdoors...lots to explore.

xo

Gwil W said...

Rich Tea Biscuits taste so bland to my tastebuds that I can't imagine they contain more than a token gesture of the sweet stuff. I think your consciences are clear. Thanks for the present for my mum. You are too kind.

Dartford Warbler said...

I hope that Tess is back to her old self now and will forgive you for the lack of Rich Teas!

angryparsnip said...

I think I agree with@ Gwil W but a whole one every day might not be good as carbs=sugar.
Wet food is not really good for dogs but if you give it to them add half the dry dental food that
makes them have to really crunch to eat it. Not the small ones that they will swallow whole.
The Square One loved carrots but thehamish can not have them any more too much sugar.
Try carrots or frozen green beans. All things my gud dugs love.
Tess will forgive you, she was a bit wonky after the anesthetic I think.

cheers, parsnip

Wilma said...

Not sure that the biscuits would have an effect on how easily a tooth could be pulled; bone loss probably would affect it more than tooth decay would. Maybe you should check with the vet before denying her her evening treat. But there could be other reasons to get off the sweet treats! Hope she is back to normal now.

Heather said...

Glad Tess is home again and that she will soon forgive you! We are supposed to be enjoying a lovely dry spell of weather which will be great for farmers and gardeners alike.
The farmer will keep dry on his walk and you can enjoy your lunch out without getting soaked between the car to the restaurant.

Rachel Phillips said...

Vets are like doctors and probably best not to take the slightest bit of notice of. I never go to the doctors and my cats never go to the vets, unless they have been fighting and it has turned septic. My cats generally live until they are 18.

susie @ persimmon moon cottage said...

My little Fuzzy Pomeranian begs (demands) tea whenever I have it. PG tips decaffeinated with a bit of milk and a sugar cube. He goes on alert when I get the tea kettle out (or even touch it), and starts to spin with excitement when I get a teabag out of the box. I don't know if it is the scent of the tea, the milk, or the bit of sugar, but he is crazy about it. I finally got a very, very small cup to share just a bit of my tea with him.

He won't have anything to do with raw vegetables, but loves cooked vegetables. Dog food with corn meal as an ingredient makes him itch and scratch severely.

My husband and I have enough to pay for with our own teeth, I hope that we won't have to do much doggie dental care, but I know that bad teeth can negatively affect dogs' health . So far, Fuzzy's teeth are ok. He is 9 years old.

Cro Magnon said...

Both our cat and dog have dry food with just half a sachet of wet mixed in. Sugar is a No No.

Derek Faulkner said...

There's some truth in what Rachel says.
Yesterday (Thurs) was the classic Spring day here where I live in Kent. Wall to wall sunshine, no wind and lovely and warm - heaven

Librarian said...

Four teeth removed... the thought has me shuddering, I have good teeth but for some reason really hate going to the dentist's myself!
Biscuits and chocolate etc. are not really meant for dogs, I suppose. An occasional nibble won't harm, but on a regular base it could be a bit much, so your decision not to let her have a biscuit every night is certainly a good one.

Really longing for some warmer weather here, too!

The Weaver of Grass said...

All your advice has been noted - thanks for that. Tess is back on form I am pleased to say.