Having a pet is a gift from God and an honor; and one that comes with a lot of responsibilities.

In the Bible, God tells us to be good stewards, this includes His creatures! 

Because your dog (or cat) can't tell you or the vet where it hurts, how much, when it really started, etc., pet parents are their best ally in ensuring good health by making daily observations about their behavior; and, questioning everything that is out of their norm, because you know what their normal baseline is.

Dogs and cats are very expressive and we all have an obligation to observe and take action when they act out of their norm.

Remember,just because your furry kids can't complain about their pain, doesn't mean that they aren't having any.

As with all things in life though, there are just certain lessons that we learn through trial and error. 

This story below, "When Bad Breath Means More Than You Think/The Importance of Vet Mouth X-Rays" contains a few lessons that will hopefully benefit your pets as much as they have mine and those of friends who have used the same great natural options. 

“When Bad Breath Means More Than You Think"

The Importance of Vet Oral X-Rays Testimonial

My latest furry child, "Little Buck" (LB) is a Pom/Pek mix from a rescue at which he lived for five years.

When I met him, I thought he was adorable despite the fact that his breath could peel paint!

Seriously, it was bad; I'm over 5' taller than him and I could smell his breath while he was standing next to me.

About half of his teeth were already missing, so I figured that was part of it. I began watching him closely to see if he ate poo, he didn't.

What I did see, is that his back legs often fell out from under him when he peed and he’d lick it off.  The rescue couple who fostered him never noticed. 

I realized that if he'd been licking pee off of himself for five years, it would certainly account for his nasty breath.

Due to being challenged by joint pain myself, I decided to put him on my all natural Swanson Turmeric and Bromelain* supplement. (300mg/150mg respectively)

Since he is a tiny fraction of my weight and I couldn't find any data on dosing online, initially I started him out on one whole capsule every other day for 2 weeks, and then backed it down to twice weekly maintenance, thereafter. 

Update: in Oct 2014 I began splitting one of these capsules between my boys and the benefits are just as good!

In a very short time, weak back legs were no longer an issue and Little Buck began running and  jumping like a track star! 

I just didn’t know yet, that it was doing far more than managing his luxated patella pain.

In lieu of paying an adoption fee, I said I would pay for a dental cleaning because it was desperately needed and far more costly.

I adopted him from the fantastic dog rescue "Adopt A Rescue Pet" in Las Vegas, NV; where I had also adopted a great rescue female American Eskimo, "Gypsy", (last picture on right), in 2005.

They are a terrific group run by Elizabeth Davis.  If you want to know that your donation is actually being spent on the dogs, donate to them. 

Little Buck is the 6th dog of my adult life and the first ever to have bad teeth, missing teeth, and/or horrible breath.

Thus, when the vet did his cleaning and said nothing more about his teeth beyond how the 3 extractions went, I paid the bill and went on believing that his breath was reflective of five years of peeing on himself; and if it were to get back 2 good, it would be a timely process. 

And since the Turmeric & Bromelain helped his pain so much, that ceased to be a contributing issue.

One of my other observations about Little Buck was that since he only went "number two", once a day, he likely had a slow metabolism.

My American Eskimo boy, Bear Bear had one and that's how I knew to suspect this condition.

Thus, I got Little Buck's Thyroid checked and it was almost non-existent at 0.4. 

He loves to eat. I have a daily yogurt, which I began sharing with him because I was hoping that it would help to negate his nasty breath.

This was dumb of me however because I do NOT eat plain Greek Yogurt and that is precisely the only kind you should really give dogs.

Fast forward to now. I take Little Buck to Buttercup Vet Hospital in Cedar Park, TX and was told he had 1 loose tooth but the teeth cleaning quote was much higher than the prior year's.

I got out the last bill and confirmed how much lower it was, but I didn't notice one immensely important fact, there were no X-ray charges from the prior year.

I called BVH to ask if this estimate was a mistake, not realizing that Buttercup's estimate included full mouth X-rays.

I spoke with Jasmine the manager; she is consistently professional, sweet and helpful. She doesn't just answer your questions but goes above and beyond to think and forecast the most helpful information and solutions for your specific needs. Buttercup and its clients are lucky to have her!

Each vet I've experienced, Doctors Pittman, Cottier, Bade and Schmidt are all very strong, caring vet's whose  love and compassion for animals is obvious at every appointment. (Sadly, as of the end of 2022 most of the original staff is gone and I no longer look forward to going there due to the substantial decrease in service and enormous increase in prices.)

I took L.B. in for his prophy and was told that Dr. Pittman would call me once she had done the X-rays and assessment. When she did, she explained that the X-rays revealed 16 teeth were abscessed and infected and would all need to be pulled. 16!

Dr. Pittman added "one tooth is so badly rotted down near his jawbone that I will have to try hard not to break his jaw during its extraction."

 I was blown away!  Not because of the expense I knew it would involve.

Not because I didn't trust Dr. Pittman, I truly do; Dr. Kara Pittman is sharp, caring, beyond thorough, and tells it like it is.

All traits that I highly respect. 

But because Little Buck has been such a happy dog who ate fast, that I couldn’t imagine how much he had suffered without me realizing it!  

The bottom right X-ray below shows the rotted tooth of which she spoke that if left in his mouth, would've caused him a far worse experience, and likely, an emergency one, eventually. 

The upper left one shows the grey rotted matter holding his teeth together and contributing to his horrid breath.

Teeth rotting to this horrific magnitude does not happen overnight!

Thus, please don't mistake an active dog for a pain free dog!

Pay attention to their teeth's appearance and breath. 

And to rescues and workers:

I know that you are all overwhelmed with abandoned pets and can't necessarily afford extreme dental care/costs, but natural pain reduction measures such as Turmeric & Bromelain capsules* are very low cost and easy to give!

Every reasonable effort for managing pain must be done because furry kids do not deserve to suffer just because they can't complain.

*I buy Swanson brand Turmeric & Bromelain when it's on sale and get a bottle of 60 capsules for around $4.  For little dogs, this is only $2 a month!

Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory that is great for joints; and Bromelain is a digestive enzyme found in all parts of a fresh pineapple that poteniates (enhances) the effects of whatever you take it with. Just as it has been a blessing for me, so it has been for my boys.

Please note: when I have taken Turmeric alone, it has NOT been as effective at managing my pain and inflammation as it is when I take the combination because the Bromelain allows for better absorption/digestion since it is a digestive enzyme!

This translates into greater efficacy of the Turmeric and his pain meds due to better absorption.  

Thus, my boys get both as well to maximize their pain management too.  Please see my "Herbs" page for more information. 

I also realized the anti-inflammatory benefits of the Turmeric & Bromelain were doing far more work than just managing pain in his back legs.

(That is not to say you can skip medical needs if using this combo!)

As someone whose life has been altered in every way by chronic pain, I also had immediate horror for the pain of 16 extractions.

Fortunately, the one near his jawbone was removed without issue.

The others were so rotted I was told they practically fell out.

I thanked God for the fact that he suffered no emergency tooth rotting through his jawbone prior to this given that his last cleaning was February 2013 and this one was end of June 2014.

All that he had left thereafter were his 4 canine teeth.

Also, I can only believe giving him yogurt daily, helped to slow down that process enough to allow it not to happen until he was in a controlled surgical environment with an excellent team.

However, again, I shouldn't have given him yogurt with sugar in it.

For the record, his breath never improved despite the yogurt.

Looking back, with this current cleaning's information thanks to full mouth X-rays, I now understand why his breath was putrid.

Oral abscesses and infection will always create an unbearable stench.

I just wish my prior vet had the proper x-ray equipment to have done the best assessment possible for LB. 

Had they, this year's call wouldn't have been so shocking.

I now strongly suspect he should’ve had more than 3 extractions last year, and in years prior. 

I know that the prior vet gave my boy the best care within his abilities. 

But, what I also know now is that if a vet office doesn't have this vital diagnostic equipment, they are going to be limited in what they can diagnose, and by default, in what they know to do and can offer for your furry kid's best pain free health.

Getting a dog with bad teeth X-rays is every bit as essential as having your own dental care needs attended!

Just because Little Buck couldn't complain didn't mean he wasn't suffering. 

Thus, I urge all pet owners to please learn from my oversights in not recognizing that his horrid breath indicated abscess and infection; as well as that a lack of full mouth X-rays equaled, a lower quality of care.

Poor dental care can lead to heart conditions; and he also developed a heart murmur.  (He was already about 7 y/o when I rescued him.)

I am all for saving money; but in this situation, it wasn’t a savings by any means because it actually meant paying out a lot more all at once.

I paid for top quality care and got it!

In 2018, Little Buck almost died from severe pancreatitis, and then it became an intermittent recurring issue until I gave him back to God on July 16, 2021. 

AND I KNOW that the only reason that my precious baby lived as long as he did, and did as well as he did, despite his chronic pain, pancreatitis, heart murmur, a fistula in his upper mouth leading to his nose, (which NEVER ONCE got infected), etc., is because I listened to my God-given instincts and put him on many herbs and supplements to lessen his pain managment pill intake, just like I do my own.

Some were human supplements that are known to be safe for dogs; some were Zesty Paws brand dog supplements.

DO YOUR RESEARCH and check with your vet.  My vet had no training it herbs so she could offer no advice; hence my gratitude to God guiding me as He did, and does all who sincerely seek Him.

I also prayed for Little Buck wihtout ceasing, and though God did not answer every single prayer, HE ANSWERED MANY, MANY OF MY PRAYERS! 

And, God used Little Buck to build my faith and patience.  I miss my little baby dog with all of my heart and soul; and a year and a half later, my arms feel empty and it still hurts because he gave me such love and purpose.  But, I am forever grateful for all that Holy God did for Little Buck, and for me, through him. 

So please, if you are already a Christian, seek God's help for your furry kids best health. 

And if you are not yet saved, please read Romans 8; Romans 10:9-11, and Galatians 5:16-26 to start to understand why you should immediately become one. 

"Little Buck" Pomeranian/Pekinese

 From Adopt A Rescue Pet 

Las Vegas, NV

 http://www.adoptarescuepet.org/

"Scottie" - American Eskimo (a.k.a. "Spitz")

From New Leash on Life 

Somerset, TX

http://www.adoptapet.com/adoption_rescue/70394.html

"Sweet Gypsy"

American Eskimo

From Adopt A Rescue Pet  

Las Vegas, NV

http://www.adoptarescuepet.org/