Posted By Sha (Canada) on 09/05/2015
Hi,
I am new here. I have a problem with my dog and would appreciate if anyone can help me out with it.
I have a 14.5 year old dog, she has bad teeth and gums and it looks as she has an infection in her gums now as it bleeds and you can see mix of saliva and blood with few clots . It started 2 days ago.
I don't want to take her to the vet, as every time I am going to a vet with her the vet suggest to put her to sleep or surgery which she is too old to do. I don't want the case of the surgery succeeded but the patient died.
It was like this in the past 2 years with multiple vets, and unfortunately I have not found a honest one that will take the time and help me without thinking of my money.
She had bleeding gums in the other side of the mouth 2 months ago, I gave her mix of manuka honey, coconut oil and golden seal or echinacea paste and applied on gums.
I also put Petzlife on her gums 3 times a day.
I gave her echinacea tincture 3 times a day.
Those helped and within a week or so things got to normal. Somehow this time it looks more severe to me than before, it looks more bleeding. She eats a little, very picky, but if it is something she likes , she will eat, not much though.
In general recently she suffered from diarrhea and is eating less. All started from antibiotic a vet gave her 8 months ago for the teeth and since then diarrhea on and off.
In general she is happy, eat very little, does not look with pain but I am sure it is there.
I am concerned with few things and would greatly appreciated if someone can help me.
1. How to stop the bleeding itself? I am concerned from losing blood, if possible at all in this case.
2. Any remedies you can suggest me that I am not yet doing?
I live in a remote area with few vets available that are all don't need to work as vets. I don't want to put her to sleep just due to bad teeth and I believe that with natural remedies as it was till today, she can have some time more to stay with us and be happy, as long as she is taken care. Putting to sleep is murder and I refuse to do that.
Any help , suggestion would be GREATLY appreciated. Thank you.
Replied by Theresa
(Mpls., Mn) on 09/05/2015
Theresa
The wonderful Theresa from Minneapolis, MN has been helping pet owners and their beloved pets around the world on Earth Clinic since 2013.
About Theresa
Theresa from Minneapolis was born and raised in the inner city, always wishing she had been raised on a farm.
Her love for creatures great and small began at an early age, starting with caterpillars - which continues to this day, along with an interest in all insects and 'creepy crawlies'.
Theresa's interest in pet health started with a bird keeping hobby at age 14, where she learned from another hobbyist that the simple addition of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in a bird's drinking water kept fungal infections away; she was able to share this with her avian vet who in turn prescribed it to her own clients; Theresa was surprised to learn that she could teach her vet a thing or two. This important lesson - that each of us can be a teacher - was a turning point for Theresa, and fueled her quest for the knowledge held in lore, and remedies passed by word of mouth. That quest for knowledge continues to this day, as new and old remedies alike are explored. She may not have experience with a particular issue, but she will research it to the best of her ability and share what she finds freely, in the hopes that you can heal or improve your pet's health.
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Hey Sha!
14.5 years is certainly an OLD dog - kudos to the great care you have given your girl to get her to this great age.
Bad teeth & gums = bacteria entering the bloodstream = added stress on the organs. Added stress on the organs = heart murmur + renal failure.
You might go back to goldenseal and echinacea and give it orally, along with vitamin C. If you feel there is an imbalance due to the antibiotic 8 months ago you might try adding probiotics to the food - I would use the pill form from the health food or drugstore vs yogurt/dairy as you will get more bang for the buck with the encapsulated type without risk of stomach upset from dairy. You might also consider milk thistle for liver support, and turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties as well as its antimicrobial properties. If you are concerned about blood loss red meat or an iron supplement may apply.
You can purchase an inexpensive home dental kit to scrape the plaque and tartar off your dog's teeth. Similarly you could try a beef neck bone or beef rib bone - you can do poach in boiling water for 15 minutes or bake at 350 for 20 minutes to keep the bone raw, but make the meat tasty - and see if gnawing on the bone for half an hour at a time will help remove the plaque. Make sure you supervise and limit chew time on the bone to avoid her eating too much bone and getting impacted or loose stools.
While I hear you that you do not want to PTS due to bad teeth, but please reconsider PTS = murder. Again: bad teeth left untreated = renal failure. Do you really feel it is fair to your dog to have her die from all of her organs shutting down one by one? It isn't pretty and it doesn't feel good. Sometimes the decision to gently and painlessly end your dog's life is the hardest thing for a loving owner/guardian to do, but it can be the most generous and loving action you can take to preserve your girl's dignity by ending her suffering and letting her go out on top.
{{{{{{{Sha}}}}}}}
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