Tooth abscess?

[Wienergal]

Well, here's a puzzling one for you-all. Yesterday afternoon, a large, bone-hard lump appeared on Farfel's gum, on the upper jaw, just below his left eye. It arose VERY quickly, is about the size of a marble (!), and causes him no discomfort, even if you press on it. The strange thing about it is how quickly it developed--in the morning, it wasn't there, and by three in the afternoon, it was huge.

I called my vet, but she isn't in this week, so I had to talk to a substitute vet. She said it sounds like a tooth root abscess. I'm taking him in late this afternoon to have it checked.

But in the meantime, has anyone had any experience with such things? Penny's Aunt, do you know anything about abscesses? I should have thought that an abscess would be "squishier," and more tumor-like. And also that there might be an odor, which there is not.

HELP!!! http://dachsie.org/ubb/uh-oh.gif

[Penny's Aunt]

A tooth abscess would have been not only my first guess, but my ONLY guess. A swelling right below the eye is so standard for that abscess, it's hard to imagine anything else. One of the tooth roots goes right up there.

Yes, they do seem to just "pop up". It is hard now, but gradually it would soften & rupture, & he would have a runny open sore in the same spot. And if you let it go, or just treated it with med, it would probably heal over, then when everything seemed fine, it would pop up again, & continue to do so until the tooth is removed.

[Owen's Mom]

Poor Farfel! We don't want you to be sick http://dachsie.org/ubb/sick.gif Owen will send his powerful Dachsie rays of healing your way. If you smell fritos, it's from his frito feet rays!

Get better and keep up posted

~~Amy & Owen http://dachsie.org/ubb/facelick.gif~~

[Mrs.F]

Yikes! Hope you're feeling better soon Farfel. From what Penny's Aunt says, it sounds like you might be going to have a tooth pulled today! Is there a 'Dachsie Tooth Fairy'? If not we just might have to recruit one! http://dachsie.org/ubb/biggrin.gif
Take good care of yourself and give your Mom lots of snuggles - we're sure she's really worried about you!
Heidi, Penny & Maggie

[Mickamack]

Oh Farfel, Mickey and I want to send you wishes to get better quickly. That sounds so awful. We're thankful that it doesn't seem to be too painful, but we're glad you're getting it looked at. We'll be thinking of you.

[Wienergal]

Thanks, everybody! Amy, tell Owee how much we appreciate his frito feet rays! http://dachsie.org/ubb/eek.gif I guess it MUST be an abscess, cause Dr. Penny's Aunt KNOWS! I must say, the possible sequelae sound pretty horrific, so we will be sure to get it taken care of pronto! http://dachsie.org/ubb/sick.gif

We go at 5:30. When I spoke to the vet, she said that, if it is an abscess, she will give me antibiotics today, and they will do surgery next week, when my regular vet is back. But I'll be sure to ask her about the potential for rupture in the meantime. I'm not sure I would survive something like that... http://dachsie.org/ubb/crying.gif

OK, so off we go, ready to empty the checking account.... http://dachsie.org/ubb/blah.gif I think the surgery involves more than just an extraction.

[2DogsLong]

You could try the 'tie a string around the tooth and the other end to a doorknob trick' http://dachsie.org/ubb/smile.gif

Wasn't there a cure for wiener ailments on the Zone once - something like rubbing a large honey-glazed ham on both the inside and outside of the dog?

[Wienergal]

I'll tell ya one thing, Sue--it hasn't affected his appetite one bit! He raided the garbage can this morning. Luckily, it made a loud noise when it fell over, so he didn't get anything. Maybe he was looking for a ham.

[WOTANSMUTTI]

Wienergal! Farf the snarf, wonderboy that he is, will have to settle for something less than a ham under his pillow when he gets his tooth out. Chicken would be nice... http://dachsie.org/ubb/facelick.gif

[isobelsmom]

Indi, one of my mixes http://dachsie.org/ubb/mutant.gif had an abcess but you never would've known it. same hard lump in the same place. the vet put her on antibiotics for a week before and then pulled it ---trimmed her nails too http://dachsie.org/ubb/uh-oh.gif while she was out. I'm such a mean mamma. i had an abcess once when I cracked a tooth and didn't know it. I was http://dachsie.org/ubb/sick.gif and it hurt http://dachsie.org/ubb/crying.gif and I don't understand how they cannot really react to something like that.

Actually, I heard it was a piece of filet mignon and not a ham . . . .although either would do for a dachsie http://dachsie.org/ubb/bounce.gif

Isobel sends hugs and kisses to Farfel with just a hint of Frito flavoring

mary

[Krista]

Farfel get better soon!!! I feel so bad for you, poor sweet guy.

Rudy sends rays as well!

-Krista
BTW I mailed the thunder CD today.

[Penny's Aunt]

Don't panic if the abscess ruptures, it's really no big deal unless he rubs it on your furniture! It usually involves an area about the size of your fingertip, & some pus runs out. Most people never see it happen, they just see the open sore afterwards.

It's not as gross as a large cat abscess by far!

[Wienergal]

Thanks so much for the advice, kind words, and support. Farfel had a cracked molar, just like Isobel's Mom! Who knew?? http://dachsie.org/ubb/eek.gif He's had two doses of antibiotics now and the lump has gotten quite a bit smaller. Tooth comes out Monday. And my worries were unfounded--all they do is pull the broken tooth, no other surgery. You would never know anything is wrong with him. Do dogs have higher pain thresholds than humans? We KNOW they have higher emotional pain thresholds, but what about physical?

[Penny's Aunt]

I shudder at the tests that would provide that answer!

How much human physical pain is mental? We worry so much about everything, it all seems to mesh together.

Dogs just seem to worry about their dinner being 3 minutes late, & why Mom is so slow getting the leash for walkies.

[WOTANSMUTTI]

Farfenator! Tell yo mama yo's wants a gold tooth. That should make the gals crazzzeeee.

http://dachsie.org/ubb/tongue.gif

[Wienergal]

Sonja, how clairvoyant you are!! Farfie has already requested a gold tooth with a diamond solitaire in the center. Sez he wants to be a cool dog, as well as a hot dog... http://dachsie.org/ubb/dizzy.gif