Questions from the vet

[Elkhunter]

I just took my 3 dogs to the vet. I will admit I was WAY behind on their shots etc. I had all rabies and parvo kennelcough etc and worming and then heartworm check on my older dog. My two younger dogs are on preventive care but I wanted to make sure things were okay for my older dog before I started his medications. But evidently my EP never lost his baby canine teeth. So now he has 2 canines on each side on the top. The vet said those need to be removed, would cost around $100. Also my 6 Y/O GSP has a growth on his nipple and he wants to do a biopsy and then removal that would be about $250-300. It seems like everytime I go to the vet its gonna cost me $500!!! My shots alone for my 3 dogs were $250! I felt ripped off. Anyways my question is should I worry about the double canines and the wierd nipple? Or are the okay the way they are? Thanks

[CherrystoneWeims]

I would definitely get the growth checked out. Having had several dogs with cancer, any lumps and bumps make me nervous.

The teeth could cause problems in the future by causing the dog's bite to go off.

[phermes1]

How old is the EP?

For the GSP, I'd get the growth tested, but honestly, I would not agree to removal unless the tests came back with bad results. Some vets want to cut off anything that doesn't look right, and just because they want to doesn't make it a good idea. If it comes back harmless, I'd keep an eye on it going forward to make sure it doesn't get bigger or start looking worse, but I wouldn't get it cut out.
I had one vet ready to cut on one of my dogs for a lump on her shoulder; they couldn't tell what it was and basically said screw it, let's cut it off. We got a 2nd opinion - it turned out to basically be a really weird type of zit. It also ended up going away on its own, no surgery necessary.

[WildRose]

Your breeder needs to be informed about the teeth, that's a genetic problem. It might or might not ever cause the dog any issues though.

I'd suggest getting the growth biopsied, but wouldn't worry about removal unless the biopsy shows anything cancerous or precancerous. CR

[dog dr]

as far as the growth on the nipple is concerned, if you can answer YES to any of the following questions, I would have it removed (or at least biopsied):
1) is it growing rapidly
2) is it ulcerated
3) does it feel attached to any underlying structures (like muscle or bone)
4) is it causing the animal a problem ( in an inconvenient or painful location, or so large it is a hindrance or catching on things)

you could tell your vet to just take it off without a biopsy. biopsy is not a pre-requisate for surgical removal. BUT, if you answer NO to all 4 questions i would just leave it alone.


the retained baby teeth can intefere with the adult teeth coming in properly (angle and location) and also create more crevices between teeth for dental calculus to form, so i usually recommend those get removed as well.

as for feeling ripped off on the cost of vaccinations, I agree those are high prices, but did you ask about what it would cost before you had the vet perform the service??

[wems2371]

Nothing against veterinarians, because I have mine on a pedestal. But you can give many shots yourself, it's easy, and you save a good bit.

Dog Dr makes a good point about asking first. I recently went to human Dr for poison ivy episode. Got pill prednisone tabs and a shot to jumpstart the process. Medication in shot was $18 and "administering the shot" in my arm was $42. What a rip off. Had I known--I never would have had it...............and I won't be going back there. Guess we always have to think like consumers. Denise

[Elkhunter]

I asked how much it was going to cost and the lady told me around $45 a dog. Then I told her to do the blood test for heartworm on my older dog and the total came to $257. I was a little surprised, I asked how it was alot more and she said she had mixed up her prices. So I dont think I will be going back to that vet. Should I have the teeth pulled? The growth does not bother him that I see, it does not bleed or look bad, just hangs of his nipple. It is not attached to bone or muscle just hanging off the nipple. I will have it removed. Thanks for the advice.

[dog dr]

if you are going to have the growth removed, then it should be pretty easy to have them remove the teeth at the same time. might save you a few bucks by doing both under 1 sedation.

[Dirtysteve]

Josh
PM with the vets name

[griffgirl]

Your breeder needs to be informed about the teeth, that's a genetic problem. It might or might not ever cause the dog any issues though.

I'd suggest getting the growth biopsied, but wouldn't worry about removal unless the biopsy shows anything cancerous or precancerous. CR

Sorry but I would have to disagree.....Its not always a genetic problem.Some just dont want to come out when there suppose to.If you dont have them pulled the adult teeth MIGHT not come in,in the right place.When there pups I always keep an eye on there mouth,nads ect.......

[WildRose]

Your breeder needs to be informed about the teeth, that's a genetic problem. It might or might not ever cause the dog any issues though.

I'd suggest getting the growth biopsied, but wouldn't worry about removal unless the biopsy shows anything cancerous or precancerous. CR

Sorry but I would have to disagree.....Its not always a genetic problem.Some just dont want to come out when there suppose to.If you dont have them pulled the adult teeth MIGHT not come in,in the right place.When there pups I always keep an eye on there mouth,nads ect.......

Disagree if you like, but all the literature I've found on canine gentic bite problems disagrees with you. Here is one abstract that states it very plainly that indeed retained deciduous teeth are a genetic in nature.

Ulrich K.
This article describes isolated aplasia of the upper canines with retained deciduous canines in identical female twins. The twins are also concordant in some ectodermal stigmata. As a result of investigating other members of the family it appears that aplasia of the canines is due to a specific autosomal dominant gene.

[CherrystoneWeims]

if you are going to have the growth removed, then it should be pretty easy to have them remove the teeth at the same time. might save you a few bucks by doing both under 1 sedation.

The nipple growth and the retained teeth are not on the same dog.

I co-owned a bitch who died of breast cancer. She was spayed at an early age. A lump developed (not on the nipple mind you) in her breast just before spay. The vet told us that with her spay it would take care of the lump. Years later she ended up with cancer and mets all over her. When we found out that she had cancer we took a biopsy of it to my husband (handy that he's a pathologist so we get diagnosis back much sooner). The specimen was from a lymph node in her groin. Diagnosis was of a breast cancer origin. This was confirmed by a veterinary pathologist. The veterinary specialist who removed the node informed us that at least 50% of breast lumps in dogs turn cancerous.

[dog dr]

The nipple growth and the retained teeth are not on the same dog.

woops

[Sharon]

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[Elkhunter]

I am just going to have it removed and not biopsied. My EP is going to a trainer and I will get him back in October then I will have them pulled. I am sure he will be fine for a few months. Its nice to get good advice on here. Dog dr thanks.

[Mntngoat]

Rex had a few teeth too many a little extra tug of war with a n old t- shirt solved that problem



ML

[Elkhunter]

My dog is 2 Y/O and his canines are fully grown and then he has these little ones next to them. I will try and take a picture and post before I send him off.

[GSPVIZ]

My Vizsla's baby canine's did not come out and she had 2 sets of them. We had them removed. She seems to be doing fine now (1 yr later).

[mountaindogs]

as for the biopsy, I agree you should do it and I don't think it is that much more to have the growth removed. They will do some minor sedation for the biopsy anyway, and if its not attached to the muscle they may be able to just use IV sedation and qqiuckly remove the whole thing. Then if it comes back with an issue - you do not have to sedate again. And if it comes back OK then, good also, you can keep that in mind if a similar thing occurs with that dog.

The tooth is more tough. If you dopnot care about bite I do not see how this would matter. Maybe a potential risk for tooth decay or infection later on perhaps, but most of the growing into the bite should be done by 2 years old. There is sometimes risk that the lower teeth will cut into the actual gums and jaw as they grow in pushed out of place by the retained baby teeth, but if this is not the case, and the bite occludes well enough to eat and chew normally enough... I am not sure it should matter.

[Elkhunter]

The vet said his bite is normal. The just look really funny these little canines next to his big canines. I will probably just have them removed when he gets back from training this fall. I will probably just do the biopsy and have it removed at the same time. It seems like everytime I go to the vet its gonna cost me $500!!! Its kind of frustrating.

[GL]

The vet said his bite is normal. The just look really funny these little canines next to his big canines. I will probably just have them removed when he gets back from training this fall. I will probably just do the biopsy and have it removed at the same time. It seems like everytime I go to the vet its gonna cost me $500!!! Its kind of frustrating.

I sure do understand your frustrations and share your feelings where expense is concerned.

Not that this is a good comparison but, I just had arthroscopic knee surgery and thank my lucky stars for good health insurance.

Walked in to the hospital at 8AM and went out on crutches at 10:15AM. Just got the bill from the hospital and about fell off my chair. Well over $4000 and this does not include any of the surgeons or the anesthitists bills. Just the use of the hospitals facilities for 2.25 hours! YIKES!

Gary

[griffgirl]

This is what they'll look like why taken out.My older guy's baby canines wouldnt come out so I opted to have them pulled. The Vet said there was no way they would of come out on there own.See,the baby canines have little barbs on them and if they dont disolve they wont come out and even might break off.The dog doesnt even know they had teeth pulled.Everything is normal and they eat just fine.You can see on the picture where the dark and light color of the teeth meet,the dark is the half that was still in gum.

[griffgirl]

500.00 dollars is a little crazy.It cost me 100.00 ... no more than any human getting a couple of teeth pulled.

[ezzy333]

That another problem that tends to be genetic.

Ezzy

[griffgirl]

That another problem that tends to be genetic.

Ezzy

Why is this genetic ?
Most orthodntic problems that effect the size of the jaw are considered genetic.Defects of tooth location ONLY are considered non-genetic.

Why mouth - genetic
Butt bite - genetic
Over/Under shot - genetic

[ezzy333]

Griff Girl,

I have no idea why it is genetic? I just know from experience that retaining the baby teeth runs in families. Years ago I had a bloodline that had problems with it to the point that out of a litter I would have to have two or three of the pups taken to the vet to pull the canines most often. It's a problem that can lead to bad bites and other dental problems over the years. Since those particular bloodlines were eliminated because of this problem I have never had another case of it. It always seemed to me like it must be hormonal since whatever triggers the teeth to loosen just never happened.

Ezzy