Lucy made it through her teeth cleaning. No major issues, but they really had to get under the gums. She is on soft foods for the next 5 days. I have to soak her kibble and it just doesn't seem to "fill" her up. I think she misses the crunching satisfaction.

I got the beanie balls yesterday (great timing!) and put mozzerella string cheese, zukes, and raw cut up slices of carrot in it. She learned quickly to flip it with her feet and nose to roll it around and get out the pieces.

What else (soft chunky things) can I put in it to satisfy her need to chew? I am thinking apples slices and simmered carrots that have been refrigerated so they aren't mushy, but I am at a loss on what else to use. Any other suggestions? Remember: she doesn't eat raw.

(Side note: I am going to have to get her a toy that she can bat around to drop food out. She really is having fun!)

(Second side note: The growth on her back appears to be a keratin cyst. We just watch it and see if it gets larger or changes shape) No advice on how to care for it.

So, she does appear to be a healthy girl. Yay!

Im glad she did well getting her teeth cleaned, I bet she will feel so much better once her gums heal up.

My dogs love their buster cube, but we don't have carpet and it is NOISY! I only pull it out when I am desperate to keep Yote busy.

What about strips of cooked chicken in her bowl, or whole carrots that have been steamed then refrigerated. Both things she would have to gnaw on a little.

You could fill a kong with her soaked kibble and she could work to get it out which might satisfy her a litte.

WHOLE carrots! Duh! I've been cutting them up into little pieces. Thanks, great idea! She would like the cooked chicken too.

Fill a Kong up with plain yogurt or canned dog food then freeze it. She will have to lick it out, and because it is frozen it will take her a while to melt it with her tongue. My dogs love this.

 Quote: angela burrell

Fill a Kong up with plain yogurt or canned dog food then freeze it. She will have to lick it out, and because it is frozen it will take her a while to melt it with her tongue. My dogs love this.

Frozen peanut butter and yogurt kong... works every time in our house.
I usually mix in little bits of "crunch", like tiny training treats - being a seeker of the chunks in any Ben & Jerry's pint myself, I can only imagine Oscar enjoys the variety as well, but it's really all about the methodical licking.

*So glad Lucy got a clean bill of health!

~Natalya

 Quote: Angela Burrell

Fill a Kong up with plain yogurt or canned dog food then freeze it. She will have to lick it out, and because it is frozen it will take her a while to melt it with her tongue. My dogs love this.

This is what I did with the little senior who had a complete dental two weeks ago (including an extraction). He did not take NEARLY 5 days to heal. You may be surprised. Within 48 hours when I looked inside all was normal pink again, no blood, and even the socket was no longer bloody.

Of course, I am not saying to ignore instructions. But if you look and everything looks fabulous (and you are not dazzled by the white gleam!), you could call back and ask.

This little bracheocephalic senior who was grabbed in an SPCA seizure had the mouth of all mouths, and now his teeth look like a commercial for that cleaning chewing gum.

Crooked, yes, but clean! Boy howdy!

Good for you for getting that done, Jo. I know you know how that can affect every system of the body.

Thanks for all the suggestions, especially freezing. That should feel good on her gums and keep her busy.

She is in a little pain, but her eyes are clearer and she seems to have more play in her and she isn't as snippy.

Can't wait to treat her to a special meal!

Update:

Lucy loves her beanie ball--especially with the froze dogfood and "soft crunchies" in it. Thanks gang! She wasn't as anxious and "hungry" afterwards.

Connie--I did get to lift the lips up a little bit on my little snapper and check out her pearlies. They did a great job! Her gums look almost pink. Some swelling but going down nicely.

And, I wouldn't have thought, hidden within that narrow delicate muzzle would be teeth so large! I am glad she inhibits her bite but will be glad when she trusts me and learns she doesn't have to snap. (I am getting very good at reading her language so she hasn't had to snap at me--except when I wanted to admire her pearlies. She forgives and we had a training session on "trust" afterwards.)

Oh, bananas are good too! She loves them!

I'm glad she is doing well!