Worst Day of My Life

On July 3rd, I was taken to a veterinarian-if I may add, a mean one-to have my fractured tooth removed. Because it was my upper 4th premolar, it could only be removed through surgical extraction.

(Picture taken from "Dental Anatomy of Dogs http://www.vivo.colostate.edu/hbooks/pathphys/digestion/pregastric/dogpage.html)

See dogs have four sets of teeth, their incisors, canine (the fang tooth), premolars and a set of molars. Typically, molars do not begin to erupt in dogs until they are between five and seven months of age. Dogs typically have 42 permanent teeth by the time they are seven months old.
For our permanent teeth we have about 20 teeth on the maxillary (upper) jaw and 22 teeth on the lower jaw. This is because we have an extra set of molars on our mandible (lower jaw).

The upper, 4th premolar, also known as the carnassial tooth is used for cutting and shearing food, and can only be removed through surgical extraction because it has three roots embedded in the jaw. Unfortunately, that was the tooth I fractured.

Extracting this tooth is more difficult and takes longer because each root has to be extracted separately.

So that Tuesday morning, Mommy dropped me off at the new (rude) veterinarian. I am confused as to why she trusted her enough to put me on anesthesia. Mommy actually got in an unpleasant spat with the veterinarian which almost resulted in me not getting my tooth removed. Which, I wouldn't have had a problem with.

Anyway, there is some risk involved with this surgery because the tooth is more difficult to extract and because pugs are considered at-risk patients for anesthesia. Pugs can be highly allergic or sensitive to anesthesia and it is not uncommon for us to not do well during or afterwards. There are different types of anesthesia and it seems that isoflurane is the best kind for pugs, but it probably depends on the type and duration of the surgery.

Although, the vet (a.k.a. Mr. Hyde) told Mommy that anesthesia is one of the most important thing she does and each minute I am under anesthesia is crucial and that is why she went back to school to get another degree in veterinarian dentistry. Now, she claims she can extract a tooth in 10-15 less than most other veterinarians. We weren't sure if it was a good thing or not, but it sounded convincing.

Except, afterwards, we found out that my tooth was very difficult to extract and therefore the surgery took longer.

I didn't get picked up until 4:00 PM when both Daddy and Mommy came to save me. I whimpered and whined, but I was too tired and in too much pain to really show them how excited how I was.



We came home and I slept. At first I laid in the big bed with Mommy for awhile, but then I decided I would be more comfortable in mine. So, I walked over to my bed and realized I didn't want to be in my crate. So Daddy took my bed out of the crate and put it by the couch. Mommy covered me up with a blanket and I slept their for awhile. Sometimes when I couldn't fall asleep I'd whimper and whine a little.

Later I decided that I wanted to sleep on the big bed again so I walked over to the bed and stood there waiting for Mommy. We climbed up on the bed and got comfortable when I decided that I wanted to be in my own bed. So I went to my own bed, climbed in, turned around in a few circles and laid down. Then I got up and walked to the big bed. Mommy finally figured out what I wanted and picked up my bed and put it on the big bed. It was darker and quieter in there and I slept better, especially when Mommy covered me with the blanket. Mommy just read and watched over me while I slept. I'd occasionally wake up and cry, but Mommy usually was pretty good about figuring out what I needed. Just kidding. I think she was pretty rude, by shoving the camera in my face and making the bright lights go off, not to mention it took her forever to figure out that I didn't want the bedroom TV on.





I was pretty pathetic, but what do you expect when your half out of it. I tried to manipulate the parents the next day. I'd whimper and whine (like in the video above) in between chasing my tail. It didn't work.

(You can tell Daddy took this picture!)

As much as Mommy hated to see me tired and in pain, she loved being able to worry about and take care of me, even though it broke her heart to hear me cry.

The next day I slept a lot, I was still tired and in a little pain, but it didn't stop me from chasing my tail. I just wish I could play with my toys. I am not allowed to chew on anything (including stuffed toys) for the next 14 days. I am also on a soft food diet, but I don't mind it because it is the best soft beef food I've ever had.