No teefies

I've been trying to sneak up on Herbie to show you that he's got no front teeth any more, but he keeps catching me, and rolling over so that I can't get a close shot. The gums over his front teeth had receded quite badly, so his little incisors had to go. He also lost the carnassial on his lower left side. Now, when he's happy, his jaw vibrates but his teeth don't chatter. It's sad. But his teeth aren't brown any more, and that's a huge improvement.

Now, every evening, I have to try and remove any food from his teeth with a cotton bud dipped in chlorhexidine mouthwash. When the vet first suggested it, I thought "Touting for more business, are we? Bowel surgery next time?" Herbie has a long history of eating toothbrushes, tubes of toothpaste, trying to swallow the little rubber finger brush (but fortunately, although it went down his windpipe, he coughed it up again. ) Things I have learned from brushing his teeth: aluminium from metal toothpaste tubes will dissolve in hydrochloric acid. Dogs' stomachs contain concentrated hydrochloric acid. And also, greyhounds are big enough that a snapped-off toothbrush head will pass straight through. Things I wish I had not had to learn: see above.

Phew

He's back, minus six teeth. His remaining teeth are all sparkly white. There was a tricky moment, apparently, when the vet was trying to anaesthetise him, so they ended up taking an x-ray of his lungs. No lung metastases, which is good news. Herbie's had breakfast, and a little potter, but he's feeling a bit sore. Still, he's back in one piece, which is the main thing, and I think the vet is almost as relieved as I am.

Teefies

Herbie goes to have his teeth cleaned next week - he may lose a few more teeth. When he's happy, his teeth chatter, and it saddens me to think that I may not hear that sound again, but it is so beyond time that his teeth were cleaned... Some greyhounds have difficult teeth, and Herbie has needed his teeth cleaning every 9-10 months, even with daily toothbrushing. Holly, on the other hand, has been with me for four years now and not needed one dental. Similar diet, better teeth.