Friday, February 22, 2008 - Page updated at 12:42 AM

Thanks to dentist, dog is all smiles

By Mike Prager

The Spokesman-Review

SPOKANE — Debbie Jensen couldn't bear the thought of her prize-winning Shetland sheepdog going without his bone.
Her dog Tavi, a breed champion, had broken a large tooth in early January and was reduced to eating only soft food.
It happened while Tavi was working over a chew bone. As soon as Tavi broke the tooth, he let out a yelp and ran for the doggy bed, so Jensen knew right away that something was wrong.

She looked in his mouth and saw the damage — a slab fracture of a large tooth in the left lower jaw.
The tooth pulp was exposed and the injury was clearly painful for Tavi, who has sired other top Shelties over the years and has competed to win a string of awards in obedience, agility and herding.

"He's a sweet little guy," Jensen said.
She took him to the pet emergency clinic for initial treatment and then to her regular veterinarian, Steve Bauer at Latah Creek Companion Animal Hospital.

An extraction was one possibility, but that would have left Tavi with a big gap in his jaw. Plus, an extraction would have required surgery and recovery time. Tavi would have been reduced to eating only soft food. No more bones.

"I would have really worried about the surgery," Jensen said, explaining that Tavi should live another six years, so she didn't want him suffering for that long without a major tooth.

She knew that some veterinarians have a subspecialty in dentistry, so she asked Bauer about it.
He said he was not qualified to do that kind of work, but that she might ask her personal dentist if he would repair the tooth while Bauer administered anesthesia.

Jensen talked with her dentist, Kenneth M. Collins, who did not hesitate to say yes, she said. He called a friend in Seattle who does dental work for .... <SNIP>

SOURCE: Seattle Times
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