Back to the topic of our discussion. As is the case with ourselves, we don't always deliver the proper teeth cleaning to the dogs that they need. This results in a build up of plaque which can lead to tooth decay. So, another intervention is necessary and is administered by our vet whom I mentioned only yesterday (see posting immediately below this one titled "Vet Trip").

In case you don't know, a tooth cleaning on a dog is not quite the same as the ones we get at a dentist's office. We humans have a tendency to keep our mouths open & permit the individual to perform the necessary action. A dog has a little different outlook on such an endeavor. When asked, a dog may open its mouth but if a scaling tool of other instrument is placed in that same opening, the pup tries to clamp down...hard. So, to preserve all appendages and preclude injury, this means the vet needs to sedate the dog & perfrom the cleaning while they're anesthesized. It doesn't take long, but the dog needs to remain at the vet's office for a little while after the cleaning to be certain it doesn't suffer from any ill-effects.

We know this is a necessary part of the equation in getting the proper dental hygiene performed on our pack but really, really dislike leaving the dogs at the vet's office for an elongated period of time. Mind you, we trust our vet implicitely; he's been around for us whenever we need him, in good times and, yes, in bad ones, too.

But, in any event, we'll make the appointments, bring the dogs to the vet's office and wait until the cleanings are performed. I guess you can say it's all part of owning and caring for our four-legged friends. And, as a by-product of our efforts, we'll even have a fresher smelling house for a few days anyway as the dogs' breath will be so much more pleasant!

Of our four dogs, only two (at this point) will be subjec to the vet's dental remediation efforts. The two Shelties on the left in the picture below, Lyric and Declan, are the ones that'll have the pleasure of this special treament in a few weeks:

And, see the shadow of the guy on the bottom right-hand side of the picture? He's the one who gets to pay the vet for the privilege of performing the neccesary dental action.

Although we can usher them into the van with no great trouble, the dogs seem to understand when we arrive at the vet's office. They become just a tad reticent about leaving the environs of the auto to venture into the building where various indignities are fostered upon them. Of course we tell 'em it's for their own good but somehow our message is seemingly never received by the pack; they have to be practically dragged into the examining room where the vet performs his duties.

It ain't all bad, 'cause as we walk out the door there's a canister with cookies. If the dogs don't accept the cookie when given to them, we'll take it along with us back to the den where they can eat in the relative safety of their own home.

Since in the past we've used the refund we recieve from the IRS to help fund the annual physicals, blood work, etc. performed on the dogs by our vet, we always hope Uncle Sam's contribution to this endeavor is a considerable one. But even if it isn't, we make sure the pack gets the medical attention it needs. After all, it's our responsibility to be sure they're healthy and happy.

We wish and hope that all Presto Dog readers take the time to get their animals checked out by a vet, at least annually. It just makes plain good sense.