Dog tooth abscess: care in elderly dogs?

Post date: 2021-06-14 11:29:15

I suspect my elderly dog may have a tooth abscess. I'm reading about the treatment (extraction or root canal) and wondering what to do.

Dog in question is anywhere from 12-16 but we don't know for sure. We love him very much and rescued him off of the street about ten years ago. He has a severe heart murmur and our vet said they wouldn't recommend anesthesia for him, unless they can do blood work and an echocardiogram, which would cost $2000-3000, but even then it may be risky. (Exam fees, dental x-rays, dental procedures, etc. are not included). If it is an abscess, as I suspect, we can no longer do routine tooth maintenance because of his heart, so we may well be developing more of these problems down the line. I also don't know how we would manage a root canal for him at this age and stage.

Have you had any experience with dental care in older dogs who are no long eligible for anesthesia? What about decision-making with regards to this sort of situation? He was happy on a walk yesterday but now is showing signs of tooth abscess (whimpers when touching face, bad teeth, not interested in food). He is old but generally content but I know there is not much we can do for his heart or his teeth anymore, so I am just trying to think about what the future looks like for him. Thanks for any thoughts or experiences.

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