Older dogs teeth

Question
I have a female dogs she is 14 years old. Her teeth have been bad for awhile and has lost a few of them, a day or so ago I noticed that on the top on the left had side in the back it is swollen and she will not let me look at it. I put my finger back there and I got a little blood on it and I could feel where it is comeing aways from the gum.  
I really don't have the money to take her to the vet and I really think she is to old to be put to sleep to have them cleaned and pulled.  What should I do?

Answer

Hi Angela,

Even though your dog is 14, if she's in good overall health, and still enjoys her life, there's no reason to consider putting her to sleep over whatever condition is going on in her mouth.

She does require a vet visit though. Your dog is probably in a great deal of pain, as you would be, if you were suffering from advanced tooth decay or periodontal disease. It's just that dogs are pretty stoic about showing pain.

Let the vet decide the dog's best course of treatment. There are different degrees of anesthesia, if your dog does require to be knocked out to treat this. It may be treatable with antibiotics or oral rinses.

If you are having trouble afford veterinary care, first talk to your regular vet. Ask your veterinarian if he or she will let you work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. Another option is to contact your local shelter or Humane Society. Some shelters operate or know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. If you happen to live within driving distance to veterinary school, check with them to see if they offer discount services to the public. There are two special credit cards to apply for which help with medical bills (including veterinary bills) read about them here:

http://www.carecredit.com
http://www.healthcard.citicards.com

Because it's a long weekend, until you can contact your vet, try using an over the counter oral antibacterial rise made especially for pets. Brands to consider are C.E.T. Oral Hygiene Rinse, Hexarinse Oral Rinse, or Enzadent Oral Rinse. These come in a squirt bottle, so you don't have to open your dog's mouth all the way to spray it inside.

You might find this website helpful:

http://www.terrierman.com/antibiotics.htm

Best of luck,
Patti