Many thanks for asking about Dude and sending your best wishes.

There were 14 retained roots in all, some fully exposed and so causing constant pain and irritation. I can't let myself think about what Dude has been suffering, though it often comes into my mind. I will talk to my own vet, and the specialist when I take Dude back for a check-up in two weeks, and get their input before I write to the Director of the shelter. I want to have all my facts just right. It came into my mind today that perhaps a tech. did some or all of the surgery, we've heard about them performing neuters quite routinely at some shelters. I can't imagine a qualified vet leaving in fourteen roots.

However, on to how Dude is doing - very well! He was already eating when I called for him at the clinic on Thursday evening. They laughed and said that he didn't want to leave his food as they put him in his carrier. He's been tucking into his wet food ever since and really enjoying it. It was good to see him sit on the bed and wash his face afterwards and I suddenly realized that I hadn't seen him do that much. He ate because he had to, in spite of the pain, but he didn't want to touch his face if he didn't have to. Another great sign is that when I do get his mouth open to squirt in his medicine, I can see that his gums are pink for the first time. Whenever he's yawned and I've take a quick peek before, they've always been very red.

The medicine is murder. He's still on pain meds, which have a narcotic base, so I wait half-an-hour for that to take effect before I squirt in the antibiotic. I have to wrap him in a soft robe and then tie the tie around his upper body. Then I put his head in a vice-like grip between my knees and wrestle with his head to squirt the med in his mouth, hoping that he doesn't choke. He gets most of it, that's the best I can do. The first day, before I thought of tying him in the robe, he hurled himself out as soon as the med was in his mouth, crashed into my night table, and overturned a full mug of tea which went drenched the remote, phone and clock.

The pain med is one that is absorbed through the gums so it needs to be oral. Once he's off that tomorrow, I may move to Clavamox tabs, crushed into a bit of wet food. The injections would have to be intramuscular because he gets sores (he's got two now) from sub-q injections. I can't do im injections on my own and would have to pay a tech to come in twice a day.

As for spoiling, well of course! Dude's idea of being spoiled is to spend lots of time with me, which couldn't be nicer for me too. He's on my lap now, leaning into my chest. I'm steeling myself to give him his next round of meds.