Tooth extraction?

First, if she hasn't had a dental cleaning, it sounds like she needs one. They can extract any teeth that are loose or need to come out at that time. A dog's healthy teeth & gums should look like ours white and pink. If they are anything else: yellow, brown, black and if the gums look red and inflammed, a dental cleaning at your vets needs to be done. Sounds like she may have various degrees of gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Since she's 12 and you suspect cancer, you might want to also have her x-rayed, if you haven't already. They'll usually take at least 4 shots, 2 (sometimes 3) of the thorax and 2 of the abdomen.

If her abdomen is distended you should definately have at least her abdomen x-rayed. Many times if they don't find anything on x-ray they can also do an ultrasound.

The little lumps you describe sound like sebaceous cyst, usually nothing to be concered about, old dogs get them a lot, but always best to get them checked out.

Hopefully she is just depressed because she has some teeth that are bothering her. She'll feel better once those are out and they aren't hurting her anymore and the infection from those teeth has resolved.

As far as price goes, vets bills vary from hospital to hospital and geographical location. Our hospital charges about $15-50 per tooth depending on the tooth. The front teeth (incisors and canine) have only one root, the pre-molars have 2 roots, the largest of the teeth the carnassials have 3 roots. The more roots the teeth have, the more it costs to get them out.

You should schedule her for a dental cleaning at your vet's. Ask your vet to prepare an estimate of what the whole thing is going to run.

Because of her age, before any dental anesthesia is done, they should do some pre-anesthetic bloodwork. They should place an IV catheter and have her on fluids during the dental. You should also be able to ask your vet about what kind of monitoring equipment they have for anesthesia. The best kind are the ones that monitor not only heartrate and the oxygen saturation in the blood but also EKG, capnography, temperature, and blood pressure. Most vets now use Iso or Sevoflurane for their inhalant anesthesia, both are very safe. Some induce anesthesia with injectables also, but what kind is usually the preference of the doctor. Depending on how her bloodwork looks, they may also send her home with some NSAIDs for the pain too.

Hope this helped.

Vets do a dental procedure on dogs where they clean up all the teeth, remove any that need to go and then polish what's left. They usually don't charge per tooth, but but groups of teeth. So dental work with no extractions will be the lowest price, the next price up will include up to three extractions, and so on.

In dogs, cancer is detected by finding a suspicous lump or lesion, and either doing a biopsy, a fine needle aspirate (sticking a needle in and seeing what the cells look like) or cutting out anything that looks suspicious and sending it for histology.

You say there are little growths? Are they soft, fatty thins under her skin? Those are usually lipomas which do nothing but sit there and feel funny. As logn as they aren't in the way of anything else, lipomas are harmless. If they are growths actually on her skin the vet will have a good look and advise you.

Hi Una, I had my tooth removed on Friday and took amoxicillin before. It is to kill bacteria and prevent infection, honestly the best thing to do with a bothersome tooth is to get it removed! The only thing you have to do is be really careful about how you look after it. I unfortunately got dry socket and went to the dentist today and he help it "clot" just ask your dentist about it all and they will help you. If your tooth is causing you excruciating pain, then it is best to get it removed and yes the pain will go after the swelling and the medicine. Good luck!

it could be cancer but most likey fatty tumors. not sure about the cost on removing teeth because most vet use anesthesia when pulling teeth. hope everything goes well at the vets and with you and your health.

must be a small dog. they do blood tests to detect cancer. see your vet and hopefully it wont be cancer.

tooth extractions can run anywhere from 50 to 75 dollars depending on how difficult it is to remove. some require dental surgery

You poor dear! Honey, I don't have an answer to your questions but I will say a silent prayer for you and send you light and love. Please try to take some deep breaths and I wish you and your baby the very best.