Hello
I am after some advice please?
I have a 4y/o beagle. He is quite a nervous dog for some reason but he seems to have awful breath lately. I did notice he was drooling a lot, but that seemed to come and go with those two days of hot weather! He has been swallowing a lot though. He is eating fine and I have just started brushing his teeth which he doesn't like but doesn't seem to be in pain (although still being soft with him
As we've only just started brushing)

My main problem is, he is nervous at the vets and in the past when in for check ups he hasn't allowed the bet to check his teeth! I am going to take him though but I am seriously worried about them having to knock him out to check as a precaution! (he isn't aggressive but does get nervous so vets are cautious) is there anything I can do to try and ease him or just go with it?
Also, and this may seem silly, but I am super skint at the mo and I do qualify for pdsa help, but I absolutely love my old vets who are private and who I still get his droncit/advocat- they are so thorough and understanding but the cost scares me that they may need to knock him out and I won't be able to afford it? But I think they'd have more chance of looking at his teeth if that makes sense as they're really calm! How much would this type of thing cost, am I being silly?

Thankyou

Smelly breath and drooling could be a symptom of an infection/abcess so I would get it checked.  Speak to your vets and explain the situation to them - they may be prepared to arrange a payment plan for you

Sorry to hear your dog is so scared to go to the vet; it does make life very difficult. :-( It certainly sounds as though there's something wrong in his mouth - a broken tooth, or a piece of bone or stick stuck somehow.

There are over-the-counter products you can buy to help ease his fear; Zylkene capsules have had good feedback, and there's a new product called Calmex which might be worth a try. Both take a few days to have an effect, however, and it sounds as though your boy could do with being checked sooner rather than later.

Sedation to examine teeth isn't cheap, but it does mean that the vet can get a proper look without the risk of being bitten if the animal freaks out, so it's over quicker. Have a word with your vet, explain the situation honestly and they might be able to come up with a plan if you've got a good record of past payment.

Thankyou so much for your responses! He has stopped drooling although seems to swallow a lot! He eats fine though. I do want to get him checked over, I think it's like being a mum, you just know when something isn't right!!

Any idea what range these prices can go up to? I know there's nothing wrong with pdsa and they're great! It's just the private vet outs him and me at ease lol!!

Thanks again

Would not like to guess, at my vets the anaesthetic varies according to weight and then I guess it depends what they need to do when the get in.

Calmex is meant to have an effect within an hour. Zylkene works best if given for a day or two before the event, on a daily basis.

Personally my first thought would be the throat and/or tonsils.

I know how difficult it is with a really scared dog -the fact that it is the mouth that needs to be examined makes it so much harder.

Thankyou! It's nice to know people 'get it' - so you think try calmex and see how he gets on with vets?

What do you all think about private/pdsa? I'm struggling this
Month but obv, my boy is my priority.

A dental under GA should cost you under £200, and if there is a mouth problem, he will be so miserable.  I think you need to get his mouth sorted, as it's likely he's sufferineg.

I have never used PDSA but I used our local dogs home to microship my beagle as they do it for a fraction of what my vets do.  They took my dog off me which is always an issue for her, so she was already scared and although they were very pleasant with her they did pretty much have to drag her away and shortly afterwards I could hear her scream.  Now I know it is a big needle and all but she is a pretty tough girl so I would not have expected that much of a reaction.  Needless to say I won't be going back, I will just stump up the cash for the vets!

> What do you all think about private/pdsa? I'm struggling this Month but obv, my boy is my priority

I don't like to delay if I suspect my dogs need medical attention so I'd phone the vets first to discuss possible options.  It's most likely that the vet would like to see you and your dog before booking him in for a procedure so you are unlikely to be billed for a dental immediately anyway.

If your dog gets very stressed in the waiting room, and during consultation, you might be able to ask the vet to come out to the car.  Explain this when booking and they'll usually put you first or last in the session.

Re which vet?  You simply have to make a judgement call and I'm not sure that's one we can help with.  Hope he's ok whomever you choose :)

Hope he's sorted soon. An idea though for when he's feeling better is to pop in to the vet on a regular basis. Just pop in, get the receptionist to make a fuss, give him a treat and then take him out again. It will become a place to enjoy rather than fear, especially if he gets to know the staff. My dog his odd, despite having all sorts of problems and nasty ops etc as soon as I tell him he's going to the doctors he's excited because there is always a treat at the end !. When he was young I just used to pop in with him during a normal walk, once a week or so, say a quick hello and out again. I'm sure it's why he's so content there now. I'm sure the staff at your vets will be more than happy to help.

Hello, again, Thankyou all so much for responding!
I thought I'd update you and let you know I rang the private vets who I love and made the appointment! He was seen today and as soon as I walked in I told her he was nervous so she sat on the floor stroked him, before lifting his lips and checking his teeth! He was SO good but the vet was even better. She really took her time and calmed him and was confident in all she was doing. (I've been to the vet for check ups before and told them he was nervous and they just say ok, I'm sure his teeth are fine)
Anyway, it turns out he probably has a stomach bug do bland food for a week and had a big chip in one of his teeth, but he was letting her rub it so nothing to worry about as now inner enamel would be protecting it(?) but would have caused him pain at first, which explains the drooling and lathargy!

Needless to say I am super super happy, got to keep an eye on him but so proud of how he behaved- I feel like I sold him short now lol!!
Thankyou all for your advice, I'm quite angry I even let the idea of expense bother me and glad I went with my gut!

Thanks again!!!!

What a star!  both your boy and the vet

Glad it sounds like nothing too bad, and he will now have a pretty solid good visit to the vets under his belt to build on.  Maybe take him once or twice to just let him go in and maybe just get weighed to confirm his visits aren't all about injections and scary stuff.  Hope he makes a fully speedy recovery too

I just want to say, Never rule out the PDSA.  My situation changed about 5yrs ago . I had two shih-tzus and there was no way I was going to be parted from them but was dreading vet bills.

I qualified for the PDSA and give what I can at each visit. I can't thank them enough for the treatment my two dogs have recieved from them.

Both have had overnight stays and couldn't have been more well looked after.

Also I don't feel that I am being ripped off by private vet charges.   My bill (although payment is voluntary) is itemised so I can see what the medication costs are and what the vet is charging for consultation  and it is nowhere near the charges of a private vet.

Sorry that wasn't much help with your question but I just can't praise the PDSA enough.