I've owned a dog since 2003. I had him with me until 2007, when I needed a safer and more stable home for him, to which my parents agreed to take him in (that is another long story). However, now that I am in a good spot to take him back without any more major moves, I took him back to be with me permanently. Jack moved back to Tucson to our house in the end of January.
While he was with them, my parents did the bare minimum for him - provided food, water, shelter, a bath once or twice a year and annual shots. They were told a few years ago that he had some dental issues but they told me they wouldn't take care of it because it cost too much. The subject was dropped and he hadn't seen a vet since July 2010.
Yesterday I took him to the vet for a checkup and annual shots. He was diagnsed with a skin condition that requires prescription shampoo because he wasn't bathed enough. There was no record of heart guard for him while he was with them, just a negative heart worm test. AND (this is the most frustrating part) it turns out that he has severe dental disease: several diseased teeth and 2-3 infected that have to come out ASAP. The Vet literally showed me the infected ones and pointed out the decay, the infection, and the pus in his mouth.
My heart sunk, I had no idea that his care was sub par or I would have found a way to take him in much sooner. Besides the antibiotics, heart guard, and prescription baths, Jack also needs dental surgery to have his severely infected teeth removed and also to have his mouth cleaned up. Of course the surgery is going to be no less than 1/2 of a mortgage payment.
Thinking about it, Jack is only 10 and is otherwise in good health. I want him to have a long happy life and since he is no where near slowing down, I am going to go forward with it.
T/P for Jack who will be going in for surgery as soon as get back from our honeymoon.
(Edited for grammar)
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