My Partners Mums Elderly Dog Has A Loose Tooth And Decay

[loulou111]

My partners mum in her early 80s has an old jack Russel 14
Years old. He's got a loose tooth and brownish teeth and rotten breath that literally stinks out the room.
We need to get him to a vet but shes reluctant because of his age.He's her only companion shes worried he'll be put to sleep. Any idea for the price of an anesetic a tooth extraction and a clean up at a vet. I think im slowly bringing her round to it being a necessity.

[woofgang]

The poison in his system from rotten teeth is more likely to killl him than a vet visit. The vet cannot put her dog to sleep without her permission. You will need to say roughly where you are to get an idea of price.

[Buenchico]

See here for actual amounts paid for dental work on dogs in different parts of the country:
http://www.whatprice.co.uk/prices/vet-prices/dental-surgery-dog.html#axzz5X8lm8nSn

[EDDIE51]

^ In that situation the RSPCA or the PDSA would do it free.

[vetuste_ennemi]

/Quite a spread of prices looking at Buenchico's link.

I live in West London and have never paid anything less than £250 (and sometimes a lot more) for dental work on my cats which required a general anaesthetic and is probably needed here.

Small digression. An exchange six years ago between VE and his vet:

vet: I'll be away so you'll see a locum when you bring her back for the follow-up.
VE: Holiday? Where are you going?
vet: Medina initially.
VE: You're doing the hajj, then.
vet: Not the full thing. It's a mini version. It's called the umra.
VE: You've just given me this bill and you can't afford the real thing?//

Back to the OP. I think there may be an issue with a very old dog which probably needs a general anaesthetic, Loulou. But your mother-in-law needs professional advice on that. I think the PDSA may be better if money's an issue.

[woofgang]

how does any of the OP indicate that the person involved may be on benefits?

[hereIam]

I had an elderly dog who had to have an anaesthetic once for some tooth work, he was roughly the same age as your partner's Mum's dog and he was fine. I've also seen elderly dogs on TV programmes who needed this work, also fine. This poor little fella will probably be in pain because of bad teeth and really, really needs this doing. I do hope you can bring her round. By the way, my lovely dog lived to be 17.

[hereIam]

I can't remember the price, but if it needs doing, it needs doing.

[loulou111]

Would the p.d.s.a only do this surgery on benefits?

[loulou111]

We went to the vet hes quoted almost 400 none of us are on benefits amd dont have that money

[Buenchico]

The PDSA requires people to be on benefits AND to live in a relevant postcode area in order to receive assistance from them:
https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/eligibility

The Blue Cross has similar rules:
https://www.bluecross.org.uk/can-i-access-blue-cross-vet-care

All I can suggest is paying for the treatment on a credit card (or taking out some other form of loan). Sorry.

[hereIam]

But the dog will be in pain and it can't be left. Vets aren't cheap, but maybe yours will come up with a payment plan for you. Surely the dog has been to a vet before ?

[paddywak]

Three years ago my sister's miniature poodle had the same problem.When she was at her sons' for the weekend her partner whipped him up to the vets and had the full treatment done,teeth extraction the lot don't know how much it cost but it worked a treat he's nearly sixteen now and he acts like a dog half his age.

[ummmm]

Our vets do payment plans.

They also don't insist on immediate payment. They sent me an invoice.

[ladybirder]

loulou that poor dog must be taken to a vet immediately as it will be in pain. There is help available if she can say Yes to all three:
* she lives in the catchment area of a PDSA hospital
* is a pensioner
* lives in a Band A-D property.
Here is a C&P to confirm. Look at the last two lines. Good luck I hope for her and the JR's sake she qualifies. I am lucky to live in such an area.

//You live within the catchment area of a PDSA Pet Hospital

PDSA offers two services at the Pet Hospital(s) in your area.


Low Cost Service

You will be eligible to register your pets for our low cost service if you are in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

Child Tax and Working Tax Credits
Universal Credit (without housing element)
Pension Credit
Income Support
Job Seeker’s Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (formally incapacity benefit)
Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
State-retired pensioners who are householders in Council Tax bands A-D* are also eligible

[ladybirder]

Bump.

I want Loulou to see this.

[lankeela]

Vets are not in the business of putting dogs to sleep without good reason - he could have a good few years left in him. Not fair to make him suffer because you are afraid to take him.

[ladybirder]

Loulou I have just noticed you have given me BA, thank you. I hope that means that your partner's mum qualified to get help from the PDSA for her dog, I really do.