20% of dogs who are sedated after the age of 14 die, never to wake up from the sedative. Thems is not good numbers.

Nevertheless, George’s halitosis was unbearable. When he yawned, he cleared the room. A Google search on canine health (I hate myself for doing that) revealed the dangers of neglecting a gum cleaning, even it entails possible death during sedation. There is a “easy” dilemma for ya. Reminds me of my dermatologist who chops off melanoma in situ from my body, while telling me that melanoma in situ is over-diagnosed.

George doesn’t care about his breath. I should have mentioned that. George suffers from canine dementia. He is incredibly old for a mid-size poodle yet he is in perfect health. Btw, that is very common on one side of my family: a very long life with all the marbles in disorder.

At times, George walks in circles; he bumps into walls on bad days. He has no sense of direction whatsoever. He gets stuck in corners or bumps into glass doors when the going gets rough.

Were this the case every day, I would have put him down long ago. A long life is not worth it if it entails suffering; that is true for me, and for him.

It is not because of egoism that I decided to risk teeth cum gum cleaning which he underwent today. George loves eating. He loves sniffing at leaves. When the wind blows, he sticks his head out to feel the air at its fullest. He has a will of his own. In the heat-he is unwilling to walk outside. Mid-day outings are a nightmare. In the morning and in the evening, he enjoys the outdoors, albeit his slow gait. A few times each week, he returns to his old ways; jumping up high when I come home, and running around the house, full of energy.

So, I decided to have his gums cleaned as well as removing hair in his ears under full sedation.

Dr Yuval told me that once George woke up, the admin would call me to pick up the boy, probably near noon.

At 11 am I could wait no longer. I went back to the clinic and paced back and forth, like I did when my daughter gave birth.

At 12.30, George emerged from the recuperation theatre. Clean gums; minus 2 teeth, smelling like a lily.

                                     All’s well that ends well-leaving the clinic

Post script.

It was a tough two days after the gum cleansing. The sedation really worsened George’s dementia and he was walking into walls as well as  getting stuck behind doors. It was necessary for me to pull an all nighter.

After 24 hours, he calmed down-after vomiting and crapping all over, again from the sedative. BUT he is fine now- and still smells like a lily.

Never forget, not only is a dog, your best friend, YOU ARE THE DOG’S BEST FRIEND. It is not a one way street.