Grooming a Difficult Senior Dog in Record Time 

Your 100% correct! Which you know you are lol just wanted to agree!

Your right about some dogs being born with good teeth. My last 2 dogs were Yorkies, renowned for having bad teeth. Lucy; my first Yorkie had one tooth removed her entire life. Monty; my second Yorkie had had all his teeth removed by the time he was 13 years. Both were rescues, Both I had got as 5 year olds. Both hated toothbrushes. None of my previous bigger dogs lost all their teeth. I had 3 dogs that loved raw carrots. I gave them 1 carrot a day. Kept their teeth lovely.

As a former owner of 2 IGs and foster home for breed rescue, I definitely relate to the statement that some dogs have great teeth, and some have very, very bad dental genes. My male IG never ever had to have a tooth pulled, but my female was toothless by the time she was 12 (even with daily brushings). Every one of the IGs I fostered? Teeth had to be pulled before they could pass the health requirements for adoption. While breed can and often does play a factor in dental health, as dogs with longer muzzles tend to have poorer dental genes, it's also case-by-case, but I do think my male IG was a rarity.

What clean their teeth in their toothpaste? I have a kitten and I looked at the ingredients and I don’t understand what cleans them. Is it just the scrubbing of the toothbrush or do we need the toothpaste?

@@celestia8165 It's an enzymatic toothpaste, so not like what we have for people. Doggos can swallow it without issue. You just need to make sure to coat their teeth with the paste and their licking action does most of the work.

Infected ears and rotten teeth aren't untouchable health issues. The dog should be taken to the vet for basic treatment.

@@mygirldarby Right! Tooth pain is terrible. Why worry about killig the dog with a dental if keeping it alive is torture? The dog needs a dental and to have it's ears treated. Those ears are awful. There's no way that's recent. It's neglect. The more I hear the madder I get. "The previous groomer couldn't clean his ears"? Well that was the time to go to the vet, not wait for months for another groom and then try to get another groomer to do it!

So true! 👍

I agree 100%

@@mygirldarby I think they meant untouchable by a groomer. They absolutely are issues for a vet to take care of.

So true. And age is not a disease, with the proper pre-anesthetic checks and monitoring during the procedure, they tend to do just fine under anesthesia. "Too old to be put under" isn't an excuse if the benefit outweighs the risk.

My mom adopted a senior teacup chihuahua who had bad teeth. Was 11 at the time of adoption, and is now 12. She's doing just fine without teeth.

Totally agree, the procedure is so worth it. Bad teeth can be life-threatening in severe cases. Removing their teeth also makes them so much more comfortable and happy. My maltese/bichon is 14 and had her teeth removed and has been sooo much happier since, and has discovered that chin scratches are nice when your mouth doesn't hurt! She is very healthy. I was a pet groomer for a while and there were a lot of dogs that would come in with rotten teeth and it would cause them to be aggressive from pain. A lot of owners we dealt with disregarded our concerns and instead chose to keep their dogs' rotten teeth in.. very sad to see.

You are a wonderful human being for doing this 💜

You got her to adulthood and I’m sure she loved you for it. Sending much love

Thank you so much for doing that for the little dog ❤

I’m very sorry your mother passed away, but I bet that she would be or is very proud and grateful that her fur baby was kept in the family and given a loving and stable home in her twilight years. Did she get along well with your other dogs?

A gift to your mother in spirit as well as the pup in your life. Thank you.

It all comes down to how well you treat your own animals. I guess this owner didn’t care until the last minute

​@@ItzzRicki ... The dementia and age-related loss of vision is hardly down to "how you treat your own animals". This dog is very old. The teeth may well have only started rotting AFTER the dog became unsafe for sedation, making it impossible to get them pulled. And the owner might have thought the dog losing his hearing (and getting agitated about his face/ears being touched) is down to age as well rather than ear infections. I know many pet owners who will honestly just keep a dog this old fed and watered and leave them to stay in a corner until they eventually pass. (My uncle is doing that with his old arthritic dog.) This owner is trying to get her dog groomed - she clearly cares about him. Hopefully he'll be able to take medicine for his ears and can feel more comfortable.

That is surprising to me that people who can afford an actual pet sitter will not take their dogs to have their teeth taken care of. Or are you not necessarily talking about your own clients, but dogs you meet when you're out on walks and stuff?

@@aesaphyr surely if you can see that your dog is losing the will to live and catching all these problems, you’d tackle them as soon as it starts, and by looking at his ears its like the dog has been neglected from health care for a long time let alone it’s other problems

@@ItzzRicki This dog isn't losing the will to live though, he's just in pain, confused and agitated. He has been old a long time. So it may well have been a very long time that the owner has thought "it's his age" about his ears. And same goes for the teeth being unsafe to pull out - it may have been a long time since he first became unsafe for sedation and having an anaesthetic. I'm not here telling you he's been pampered. But rather that his poor condition is a mixture of age (nothing the owner can fix) and possibly the owner not realising there are treatable problems and it's not all just age.

You are such a kind person. 😭❤️

What a lovely gesture❤

❤

❤❤❤

I understand the impulse to help directly, but are you aware that YT takes a pretty big cut from all these? Your money might be better spent (as in, more of ot goes toward the cause) if you donate to a shelter instead. 😘

Doesn't Vanessa talk about not bashing the owner because we don't know the circumstances...

@@ladyspookums I don't really see this as a bash. We don't know why he hasn't been to a vet but it is a fact that little guy needs to go. I hope they have the money to take him

@@ladyspookums I asked if Vanessa could support medical help for the doggy as she helped Mayo' owner.

@@ladyspookumsDoesn’t matter. Not getting a dog in this condition to a vet is animal abuse. In my country this would be a criminal offense.

My friend had an elderly dog with a heart issue. NO vet would remove his teeth. They would not sedate him. Vanessa- you’re an angel!

I'm so sorry you went through this. It is so difficult as we always go into it with the best intentions, and I'm certain her quality of life was your priority. Situations like this are just so heartbreaking. I experienced something similar with my last cat. While she didn't seem like she was in pain (she was on a good pain management regiment) and had deteriorated neurologically, I shouldn't have told myself I would go to see her vet, as planned, the next day, to help her pass. She just had deteriorated so quickly, and I didn't want her end to be traumatic and stressful (as she wasn't fond of vet visits and needed some feel good meds before a visit). Now I wish, I just had taken her to the emergency vet regardless to make absolutely certain she didn't experience any pain. Will always regret my choices that evening, and will never make the same mistake again. I think the best we can do is to learn from situations like these. To hopefully make us better guardians in the future.

🙏🏽

My thoughts EXACTLY!!!!!! It was so pitiful to see. But watching how well Vanessa handled everything put my mind at ease.

YES!! I understand that his teeth are probably a lost cause if he's too old to be anesthetised BUT his ear infection is GHASTLY and that is something the vet can help with immediately. It breaks my heart and it makes me mad.

I was thinking the same thing! His people need to help him!!!!

I’m sure they’re doing everything they can, if they’re taking him grooming.

And when not to. This dog will be fine once it gets home I'm sure.

@@pgnandt DO YOU SEE THE INFECTION, LOSS OF TEETH?! HE'S IN ALOT OF PAIN FOR SURE! WAKE UP!

😔

@@pgnandtlet’s hope you don’t have any animals to make suffer through something like this…

@@pgnandthe will be fine once this owner gets the medical help he needs. This just didn’t happen…it has been happening over time and this poor dog is suffering. I try not to judge but this made me cry watching his fear and pain. Vanessa did a fantastic job and hopefully ease some of his distress

It's the same story with my 17 year old Rat Terrier years ago.

I hope so too. And I believe they will, after the dog's grooming. It will not be an insurmountable problem to care for the ears, especially, then the teeth.

Yup people are strange with dogs. So many put them down just for going blind or just for being unable to control their bladder but then there's people who never let go even the dog can't eat, move and has 0 qualities of life. My family's dog just got put down very recently. Around 15 years old. He developed mental issues, couldn't tell when he needed to poop or pee until it just happened, and some days his back legs didn't want work. So we adjusted our life to make his easier. Got him diapers, got something to help him walk, got medicine. He still enjoyed outside, snuggling with my mom, bossing us all around! We only put him down when the bad days outnumbered the good. I hate when people make the choice of what to do with a dog solely based on themselves and not on what the dog needs.

My old cat got as much hospice care as was possible and one morning he cried out in pain after losing the use of his legs overnight, he got one last bunch of cuddles by the whole family and drifted into sleep in my arms with his paw on my nose at the vet's office. There is a special closure knowing he passed away peacefully in my arms, really helps to understand he reached the finish line of life supported by decisions that were best for him.

Literally the first time on this channel that I've agreed with a comment like this. Poor dog 😞

As much as I hate to say it, I agree. I've had to let go of so many animals over the years. It is heartbreaking to do so. But any animal who is in pain, can't walk, see or hear or any number of old age things, you need to think of the animals comfort and mind. If only we as humans could do the same.

It not ok in my opinion to let a dog suffer that much pain! Regardless of age. When you can’t assure a quality life for your pet it’s time to say goodbye. Constantly in pain isn’t an option plus all the bacteria in the body alone from the teeth is incredibly dangerous. Poor little guy 😢 I hope they end this suffering in one way or another but fast…

I completely agree.❤

@haggielady It is an amazing kindness. The anxiety of dementia exhausts the heart and nervous system. Pups don't recognize their home, and as it worsened, I could not comfort my 15-1/2 year old poodle mix soul mate. We had the most beautiful goodbye of all my cats and dogs before. It was Auggie's best time to leave his body behind. We both recognized it.

Maybe before they get this bad.

I know we're not supposed to judge the owners and also letting go is such an incredibly difficult decision because often times you don't see how bad it is when it's a gradual change - but I really don't understand how you can let ear infections get that bad :( The teeth you cant remove without sedation, but the ears don't need anything that severe... just makes me thin the dog was never taken regularly to a vet. Poor thing

That was my EXACT thought. It's time for the owner to let him go. He's suffering.

😭😭😭😭😭💯💯💯💯💯

It depends. In our case, we don't put our dogs down until there is no longer the will to live as seen in their behavior like no longer wanting to eat and vomiting their food or no longer interested in their surroundings. But we do our best to prolong their lives and having end of life care as long as they have the will to live (like eating well) or still young for their age or if there is a chance to beat the disease (which happened to our 3 year old, now turning 6 years old, when he had lepto and liver disease). It is a difficult path that we are willing to take. Some owners just don't want to be bothered so they tend to justify that it was for the benefit of their pet cat or dog when the truth is it was for their own benefit. Case in point. We didn't want to put down our recently deceased dog but he was no longer eating for a week. His creatine and BUN were beyond readable and his temperature was below normal which meant his body was shutting down. We knew he was nearing the end of his life but we still wanted to have other options like giving painkillers or end of life care if possible since we were in denial that he was dying, but eventually chose euthanasia when the vet said it would just cause more pain for our dog. Right across us was a woman with a senior blind chihuahua whose appetite was still robust. She wanted to euthanize her dog a week before that day but the vet refused her because her senior dog was deemed healthy after a check up, so she came back to see if she could convince the vet to euthanize her dog that day because she said she did not want her dog to suffer due to being blind. There was no other problem except the dog being blind but I guess she was tired taking care of a blind senior dog (12 yrs old , she said....a chihuhua can live a lot longer and ours is now 14 years old). I didn't know if she finally had her dog put to sleep (if the vet agreed) despite having a healthy appetite and will to live (based on how I saw her dog behave) because the vet saw our dog first and then euthanized him. The irony was we didn't want to have our 5-yr-old dog euthanized and were willing to take care of him longer despite the reality he was already dying of kidney failure and severe anemia despite medicating him for a year (since we were in denial) and yet that woman preferred to euthanize hers despite the reality that her dog had a few more years to live. But of course, she said her dog was in "pain" so her dog had to go.

10000% agree... like at what point do we allow out pets to just waste away in terrible conditions, when they are in pain but also they cant be treated because putting them under anesthesia is also high risk. i genuinely dont want to talk about the dog in the video. its not my dog, not my choice, not my place to talk on, i dont know what the dog is like at home. but ive seen my fair share of senior dogs were keeping them alive is far more cruel than just letting them go. the complicated topic of "quality of life" is really important nowdays.. when with modern medicine we can keep stretching out our companions lifespans, but the quality cant get raised in the same way. my dog is only 2 years old and i hope to give him a long, happy and healthy life. but i cant help but think of the time when he is a senior.

Or you could just take them to a vet and make sure they’re not in pain. There are other medication‘s. They could take for anxiety if they happen to be anxious all the time at home also. Just because they get old, have pain, or have dementia, does not mean they need to be euthanized.

@@SimplySatisfiedSarah I agree. Sometimes people are the ones who are bothered even though their pets still have the will to live based on their behavior. And many can't take the hassle of taking care of a senior dog with health issues despite the dog still having the will to live. That is why with our pets, as much as possible, euthanasia is the last resort when it is clear to us that they are in pain, will just get worse and already dying, and medication won't help them anymore.

The first time I didn't enjoy the video.I was as stressed as that poor angel😢Take him to check his teeth.I have a 17 years old cat with no teeth and he has been perfectly happy por seven years.He could not eat with the pain before.Rotten teeth and infected ears ....THAT IS ANIMAL CRUELTY!!!!!!!

We're at that stage with oir old chihuahua girl. Doggy dementia sucks. She's not in pain thankfully, so we're waiting for my kiddo to come home to see her one last time. Unless something dramatic happens in the next couple of months, she'll get to see her. She's helped me raise my older girls. This decision is one of the hardest ones to make. With our old petty it was a lottle simpler to make the call...he had stomach cancer and deteriorated rapidly. With oir little Olive, she seems okay physically. Mentally, she's going downhill fast. It's so hard figuring out when the right time is 😔

@@aaronndaniperttu1111 so sorry. I asked my vet to tell me when it was time. Somehow, I felt better that he made that decision.

This is truly earth-shaking for you. Trust me -- I know. Many hugs for you and your little Olive at this difficult time. 💓💓💓 @@aaronndaniperttu1111

Did not know that walking in circles was a sign of dementia, I'm guessing it's the same or similar for cats. We had a cat who was around 19 and started walking in circles and seemed like she was out of it and unaware of where she was. The vet thought she might have been having mini strokes

@SkyeSalindar the strangest part was that she only did it at night. During the day she was pretty good. When the sun went down, she would start circling. She was blind, so how did she know it was nighttime? It was sad to see.

Absolutely. The infections and dental decay have happened over time. Poor doggie. This was hard to watch and Vanessa really did her best.

Teeth might have had something to be done preventively, but ear infections are nearly impossible to prevent... Obviously needed immediate treatment, but they don't stay "healthy" for long :(

The owners read the comments sometimes... Please be nice!

Owners could trim the feet and face at home and visit the vet for teeth cleaning and ears. They could also Dremel or cut his nails. Poor dog

If you haven’t had a very old pet there are many reasons that dental health and ears are not attended. I had a 17 yr old cat with horrible teeth but he also,had a heart mummer and could not be sedated. Not even a light sedation. It made it very difficult, and the dental problems came up,very quickly. He had yearly dental visits and teeth cleaning treats. I could not brush his teeth, it freaked him out

I usually enjoy this video but when she said and get him off my table and walked any made me angry. She should have hugged him to let him know it’s over and everything is all right.

@@Heidi51616 What makes you think she didn't?

@@Heidi51616It’s so easy for people like you to say what she “should have” done when you’re not a professional and you’re just watching behind a screen. What she NEEDED to do was get him cleaned up as quickly and safely as possible so that he can go home to where he is comfortable. She clearly did her best to do that.

@@Heidi51616 A lot of dogs don't like hugs, and it would be tricky to hug him without bumping into his poor painful ears and face.

@@Heidi51616 If the dog is already, that worked up, that possibly would have been the worst thing to do.

Not meaning to be offensive here but you can't judge by watching one short video if this old boy has quality of life. Even with his bad teeth and ears ( which can and should be fixed by a vet ), I bet he's a totally different doggie at home in his safe place. Don't forget he's totally stressed out by being outside his comfort zone, which is even harder for a dog with limited sight and hearing.

@@Mogerbelles that is still no excuse for not getting those ears looked at! teeth are sort of understandable for it it ridiculously expensive when most people are all feeling not having enough anymore.

@@StarkeyatRingo If the dog's teeth are this bad, many vets will offer discounts or agree to installment payment. Most of the time it'll be privately-owned vets that will offer this. Corporate vet clinics are another story. Also, sometimes shelters will have programs to help. Or rescue led vet clinics will offer special discounts. Another tip is to check with vet school teaching hospitals. It will just be more work because the owners will need to ask around a lot, and might find that they have to drive to a vet that isn't super close to home. Obviously it's always best to get good pet insurance, but it's much more difficult when adopting a senior dog. But no one should feel like they have no option when faced with the costs of dentals. There are still many veterinarians that care a lot, and try to do their best.

@@mejuliie My senior rescue who took over my life, whom I loved just as much as life, past in my arms on Thurs. I can't imagine the agony of time with ears that look like that. I think the whole SYSTEM stinks. We're treated like EMBICILES - LIKE WE CAN'T TREAT our own dogs only the PRIEST WITH THE DEGREE CAN DO THAT. - why is it MEDICINE AND THE VET - IS TOO MUCH- and it's BS. We have no options where I am - there are no vets - well about $600 dollar trip away. I prayed and Christ delivered. there is NO REASON why PET MEDS NEED A PERSCRIPTION - IT'S BS. everything is anymore - and we need you and all people to pull their heads out of the broken failing not good systems of the past and LOOK INTO THE FUTURE ready to embrace something new - for when I turn around and look at the past 150 yrs - A FEW HEADS SHOULD ROLL - but no one does this - it's just life. Sorry. thank you for you comment - I feel you are a city person with city thoughts and I am sure it works this way for the few WHO WISH TO BEG. Again WHY IS IT SO MUCH?? - everything is out of control and we're all in for a BIG MELTDOWN.

I could see how she acted and talked she was upset. People who have watched her long enough know how much she loves animals. This was tough to watch. The poor dog in pain, and Vanessa being heartbroken!

That’s heartbreaking. If she’s in the U.S. and there’s a Lap of Love vet nearby (just google Lap of Love), they don’t just euthanize; they also evaluate and make home hospice recommendations. Sometimes a professional can help someone let go.

Personally,once dementia sets in, it's time to let go.

@@lindah3803 whoa, let’s go back a step and first evaluate how bad the dementia is. It’s on a long spectrum. For example, a little confusion vs. a dog walking in circles and collapsing are extremely different.

@@bethjeans3780 Yes the example you gave is different. How do we know "how little" the confusion is. Do you know how those bouts of confusion actually affect the dog. It's hard enough on people who have the condition. They know what they're dealing with. They know why they have lapses in time and actions. Why put a baby through that. That baby gave you their love and trust. They trust you to NOT make them suffer unnecessarily. They trust you enough to let them go. NOT torture them for your own selfishness.

@@lindah3803 my animals let me know if they still get pleasure out of their lives when they are old or have health conditions. I know them for years and their body language, activity level, attitude, interest in food, etc. tell us. The one time I wasn’t sure I contacted Lap of Love, which has vets in different parts of the U.S. Not only do the veterinarians do euthanasia in the home in an incredibly caring way,, but they also make suggestions for home hospice and can evaluate quality of life. With reassurance that Luka absolutely still wanted to be here, plus suggestions to make him even more comfortable with simple changes in the house and slight change in meds, he was with us for quite a bit longer. This same vet - who had been to our home two other times over the years - was late for our appointment. And the reason was she had just come from her third visit to a family who kept scheduling euthanasia but then couldn’t let go. She knew the dog was suffering and was determined not to leave them without helping them get to the point where they could say goodbye.

A close second for me. The worst was an old pug who could barely breathe and seemed like it was practically dying on her grooming table. I couldn’t even finish the video. It was just too heartbreaking. 😞

I couldn't agree more.

So much pain...eveyone knows how one bad tooth feels and he has a mouth full of bad teeth. And a massive ear infection.

Agreed. That would be the best option IMHO

I agree.

I don't know how this dog acts at home but I tend to agree. My last little girl (a collie mix,)could barely walk, ,such bad arthritis) peeing her bed. I could see the dull glaze in her eyes. Knew she was suffering, we walked together everywhere. I eventually decided to have her put to sleep at home. Some peoples criticism were OH HER TAIL WAS STILL WAGGING or I'D NEVER GIVE UP ON MY DOG lord i had spent so much time money and effort. . Also I've seen people with animals with so many problems thst their life even looks miserable and owners out of some misguided I'M GONNA SAVE this animal. Sometimes you need to let an animal go 😢❤

It's not impossible that they do take him to the vet and they cannot work on him because of his anxiety and health. Sometimes vets need to sedate dogs to be treated but cannot do so because of significant health complications, usually relating to the heart. It's a catch 22 where the dog needs treatment but cannot be treated because treatment would likely kill the dog.

But you dont have to sedate a dog because of the ear infection.

​@j.k.567 Not typically, but if the dog is highly resistant to allowing the vet to examine the ears, sedation could be necessary. In this case, the dog's other health issues prevent sedation as an option. It's a no-win situation for the vet and the dog. 😢

And having the bad teeth pulled would probably decrease the dog's pain a lot, but to do that they have to put the dog under, and at 16 his liver probably can't handle that either. Getting old is a catastrophe whether you're a dog or a human, I think.@@user-vl8qw8hp1g

@@jerryjohnson736 It's still the right thing to do. It doesn't deserve to live this way. In pain, deaf and blind. It can't possibly have any quality of life.

Yeah, I couldn’t help thinking the same if I’m brutally honest. I have to question what real quality of life this wee old man has. However, I’ve had a 17yr old lurched/terrier cross and it’s so horribly hard to make the decision to send them to rainbow bridge when you’ve had them for so long. My heart goes out to both dog and owner here. And a Vanessa too, this was a stressful groom for her as well.

@@ElGibbyYes, having to put down my beloved chihuahua mix at 16 destroyed me. Too many to count, really, but Georgie boy was our last dog. I just can't do it anymore, ya know?

@@Moona1966 yup, I know exactly what you man. I got a cat after the dog, elderly NMC whose family just left him when they moved. Must have been about 20 years old, no exaggeration, and he was a badass cat. I thought losing him maybe wouldn’t hurt as much as the dog. Wrong. I was every bit as heartbroken. So now I’m staying pet free too, for a while anyway. It really is a type of pain like no other. Sending you hugs, if wanted.

I don't understand why people have animals like your dog's previous owner, to just blantently neglect them. Never walked or fed? So sad. Makes me so angry. Thank you for rescuing him. ❤

Your tale of Jakey-Jake broke my heart. Thank Goodness you were able to give him Real Love and Respect for a Month of Happiness! Hugs from Another Dog Lover. 🐶❤‍🔥

This is exactly what I was thinking, all that inflection from both ears and teeth, so close to that little brain.

Yes. My friend had a deaf/blind dog that was old and kept running into walls and couldn't smell food. It was honestly sad to see and to me seemed cruel to keep him alive simply because she didn't want to let him go. Sometimes a decision must be made about the dogs comfort and pain.

Sometimes it’s the nicest thing we can do for our fur babies, is to help them over the rainbow bridge

little dogs tend to get more teeth issues. I got my chi's teeth cleaned like 5 times after henwas middle age and they still had to take a few out during the cleanings

@@MessagesFromAurora my girl now has half her teeth. I call her my little gummy bear. little dogs definitely have worse teeth.

@@MessagesFromAuroraMy Chi is 7 and has only lost 1 tooth. I got him when he was 4, and he was a stray, and the tooth was pulled before I got him. At his last annual tooth cleaning, the vet said his teeth looked good, so I'm hoping that will continue. He eats dry kibble; Idk if that makes a difference.

Depending on where they live not necessarily. I live in a rural area in the US and there are no low-cost vet clinics anywhere near where I live. The are regular veterinary clinics, but they are very booked up so you have to make an appointment at least a month in advance in many cases. If it's an emergency they might squeeze you in if you're lucky. If it's a severe emergency that requires a veterinary hospital, it could be a 2 hour drive.

@shenequaprioleau: I fully agree! What is best for the animal is top priority!

The dog can't be sedated to pull teeth.

@@pgnandt At this point, with a mouth and ears full of pain, how would passing under sedation be worse?

​@@splendidcolors purely because when that happens vets like to make the owners feel guilty for their dogs dying on the table under sedation. I remember a great dane my nan had when I was young relatively old like 12-13 and she died under anesthesia on the table and the vets said it was not only her fault but charged her 3 grand or something for what happened