Katie’s teeth cleaning

The Cleaning

Last Saturday morning Katie and I walked over to the vendors across from the Big Tent.  We had an appointment at 10:30 to have Katie's teeth cleaned.  They do it without anesthesia, which I liked, and only charge $110, big dogs and small, which I also liked - and they take credit cards and cash.  If you are interested in having your dog's teeth cleaned, call for an appointment.  They are busy, but are still taking appointments.
 
We checked in early to see where they were and then came back at our appointment time.  I took Katie out of her stroller, leash still on, and handed her over to Gil.  She went right into his arms with no problem.  Everything seemed fine, so I walked away for the half hour it takes to clean the teeth.  Katie's teeth weren't bad, so it actually took a little less time.
 
When I got the call that she was done, I walked back to pay and retrieve her.  When I got there, Gil was waiting for me, with the fingers and back of his hand covered with Band-Aids with blood seeping through the centers of the Band-Aids.  He told me Katie had crate fear.  I've never had Katie at a groomers or vet where I left her, so I know she hasn't been in a wire crate since I've had her, but I don't know what happened before I rescued her.
 
There are two men who do the cleaning, one cleans while the other answers the phone and greets customers and takes the next dog back to wait for it's turn.  Gil said she was fine until he tried to place her into the crate while the other man was finishing with his current cleaning patient.  I guess Katie freaked out and tried to get away.  She slipped her collar and was going to get out, so Gil grabbed her by the scruff of the neck, and she turned around and bit him.  

I was really surprised, she hasn't shown that kind of behavior at all and has never bitten anyone, so she must have been really scared.  Poor thing, and poor Gil!  Luckily his Tetanus shot is up to date, as are all Katie's shots.
 
He got hold of her and the other man put her collar back on and made it tighter so she couldn't slip out of it again. They didn't try to cage her again. Gil said she did really well with the cleaning part, no problems at all - she just laid there, wrapped in a blanket and let him clean her teeth. (They wrap them in a blanket like a new born baby so they can't wiggle and use an ultrasonic scaler and hand scalers to remove any plaque.)
 
Here they are - clean, pearlyl-white sparklers:
 


(It looks like there's a “lump” over her fang, but it's just the light – she doesn’t have anything wrong with her gums.)  She was fine when I picked her up, she had a cookie when we got home, and later ate a rawhide chew toy.  Her gums and teeth weren't bothering her at all.  What an easy way to have a pet's teeth cleaned (assuming they aren't afraid of crates).  And Gil said her teeth are very healthy, no problems at all.
 
Here's Gil - he was so great and kind and gentle with Katie.  Of course I apologized profusely, but I had no idea there would be a problem. We used to have a plastic crate, but it was different and I was always there with her.  Now I know to never leave her anywhere they will be putting her in a crate.  No boarding for her, I guess.  Unless I get a sedative from her Vet, which might not be a bad idea to have on hand.
 


Here’s their sign – Doggie Dental is located across the street from the Big Tent in Row “P” Space 29-30.
 


I would highly recommend Doggie Dental – they sure did a nice job with Katie, and even after her “episode,” Gil was as gentle as could be with her and even said they would be happy to clean her teeth again next year.  But we have agreed I’ll put a harness on her and they won’t put her in a crate. I’ll stay with her until they start the cleaning.
 
Hazel and I walked over there yesterday to make an appointment for Fleur, and I talked to Gil again. He only had one Band-aid on and his hand looked good.  He said it was fine.  :) 
 
NOTE:  For any nay-sayers and also for full-disclosure - I've read the articles about non-anesthesia dental cleaning and why it could be bad for our pets.  I've done the research.  Katie's teeth are good, didn't have a lot of plaque, she doesn't have bad breath and her vet said she could easily wait a year.  She has no gingivitis, and was a good candidate for this type of dental cleaning.  I'm not recommending this for all pets, just saying it was great for Katie.  If your pet has very bad teeth with plaque under the gums, I don't know if this procedure will remove the plaque or be appropriate, and you should ask your vet and/or question the technician.  A regular veterinarian visit with cleaning done under anesthesia might be better for your pet.
 
The Big Tent

When we walked through the Big Tent, it was crowded and got worse as we walked along.  I had Katie in the stroller, which is a great idea except when there’s a real crowd.  Then it was hard to keep from running the front wheel up the heels of the people in front of us when they stopped suddenly.  We hightailed it out the first exit I saw and walked home.  But it was fun to see all the excitement and we’re  going to head back there when the crowds abate a bit.
 
This photo is NOTHING like the crowds a little later – we were literally stopped in the center aisle and couldn’t move forward.  See those two women smiling at us?  That’s the kind of smile Katie gets when she’s in the stroller.  I get kick out of the attention she gets, and she seems okay with it, too.  :)
 


Below are a few photos of the rigs parked around my area.  In some places they are literally side by side or nose to tail, and there are RVs in almost all the available spaces closest to the wash near the Big Tent.  There is a regulation, "A minimum of 15 feet of space must be maintained between dwelling units."  It's so that emergency vehicles can get through, and I can see why that's a good idea.  I saw a couple of rigs almost touching, and if one caught on fire, there would be two rigs lost, and maybe more.  Luckily no one is that close to The Palms.
 


You’re Gonna Love This 

There is a road between me and my neighbors, Fay and Butch, and yesterday a truck pulling a trailer parked in the road right between us.  I saw Fay and Butch talking to the wife, who was out of the truck guiding her husband.  They went back to their site and the wife walked over and talked to the husband.  I assumed she told him this was a road, and she then went back to guiding him, but he wasn’t moving ahead, just getting situated.   It looked like he was actually going to park on the road.  I thought maybe Fay and Butch didn’t mention that they were in the middle of a ROAD (for friggin’s sake it should have been obvious!) so I went outside to let them know.  No point in them setting up their camp and then noticing they were holding up traffic; they would have to break camp and find another spot and start all over again.  That's another regulation:  "Campers may not block roads or trails commonly in public use with their parked vehicles, stones, wooden barricades, or by any other means."
 
When I walked up to his window, the husband rolled it down and I said, “You know, this is a road, you aren’t planning to camp here are you?”  He says Yes, he IS going to park here, kind of belligerently.  I said, well, you can’t, it’s a road, you’ll be blocking traffic.  (Meanwhile, two ATVs are at the end of the road by his wife, waiting for him to move so they can get through.  HELLOOOOO - can you spell R-O-A-D?)  I said, “If you move about five feet nearer to my motor home, you’ll be off the road and it’s flat there.”  You won’t believe what he says back to me.  “ I don’t like parking next to roads.  I’m parking on the road.  I do it all the time and I’ve never been told to move.”  So, he doesn’t like the dust of people driving on a road next to his campsite – his solution is to park in the middle of the road so no one else can use it.  I'm thinking, Oh, well then, that's okay.  As long as YOU'RE happy.
 

Meanwhile, the ATV drivers, shaking their heads, take a detour and drive through the area between me and my neighbor on the other side.  That is NOT a road, but I can see it becoming one if this jerk stays in the middle of the real road.
 
I told him the Rangers would be out to get him off the road.  Then he gives me the stink eye – and says, as he’s rolling up his window – “Well, I don’t want to camp next you YOU anyway!!!” and he drives off.
 
That was a pretty exciting meet-up.  Almost all of the people I meet are super nice and friendly, and this guy was a bit of a diversion - got my dander up - made my day.  GET YOUR BUTT OFF MY ROAD, BABY - WE ARE WOMAN, AND WE ARE STRONG!  I have to admit I was feeling quite feisty after our exchange.  LOL 
 



WELCOME to our new Follower, Dave!   Dave says in his profile that he has always loved to travel and has been to 47 states.  He hates to fly, so until they open that causeway to Hawaii, it will not go above 49. I guess he has one more to go, and I think it's North Dakota.  :)  Dave is married to Marcia and they have two dogs, Bubba and Skruffy, who are just darling.  Check out his blog, Going My Way.  Thanks for following along with us, Dave - Welcome Aboard!
 
And WELCOME also to our newest Follower, Catherine Roberts!  In her info shown, there isn't a blog, but here's what she says in part, "To those who might be interested I'm a Mum to a huge brood of boys, I adore my furry friends,Tilly, Fluffa and MIZ Bunny, I'm an artist, a knitter, a weaver, and photographer. I love motorbikes and wish I was 20 years younger to try adventure racing."  Catherine sounds very creative and very interesting, considering the fiber arts and the wish to be an adventure racer!  Thanks for following along with me and Katie - Welcome Aboard, Catherine! :)

From me and Katie, have a great Tuesday, everyone!  :)