04/06/2026
To all the pet owners out there caring for senior petsโฆ
The ones making decisions, weighing up options, trying to do the right thing and wondering if theyโre making the right call.
๐I see you.
๐I understand you.
๐I appreciate you.
And you are doing an incredible job.
Because honestlyโฆ it is damn hard.
Even with all my experience and knowledge, when itโs your own animal, it is still stressful. It is still emotional. It is still a constant balancing act.
Today, Poppy had to have a dental procedure.
As many of you know, Poppy has health concerns that make anaesthesia much riskier than it would be for a healthy dog.
๐ซShe has a heart condition.
๐ง She has neurological issues.
๐Her liver is compromised from the steroids she needs to stay stable.
These decisions are never simple when we are dealing with senior pets with complex health conditions.
It often feels like there is no good choice โ only the choice with the least risk, or the one that gives them the best chance at quality of life.
With Poppy, there really wasnโt an easy option.
๐ฉบ Option one: Go ahead with the procedure, knowing there were unknowns. We didnโt know how her brain, heart, liver or body would handle the anaesthetic, or whether she would even come through it safely.
๐ฉบ Option two: Donโt do the procedure, and risk her quality of life reducing significantly. Ongoing dental pain, infection, bacteria from her mouth potentially affecting her heart and organs, and possibly shortening the time she has left.
Both options scared me.
Both had risks.
Both could have affected her life.
In the end, it came down to quality of life and doing what I truly believed was best for her. Having the procedure done now, before her teeth became worse and before the anaesthetic needed to be longer, gave her the best chance, even if it meant taking the risk she might not make it through.
So we did everything we could to make the most informed decisions possible.
โ๏ธ We ran bloods a month ago, then made changes to her medications and supplements based on those results, because they werenโt great.
โ๏ธ We repeated her bloods today before anaesthetising her, and thankfully, they were better than last time.
โ๏ธ She had a very thorough pre-anaesthetic check.
โ๏ธ I did a lot of research into the safest anaesthetic protocol and drug choices for her specific health conditions, so she had a very tailored protocol โ and it worked amazingly.
โ๏ธ She had already had an echocardiogram a few months ago, so we knew more about the condition of her heart before making this decision.
We gave Poppy the best possible chance of a successful outcome.
And honestly, that is all we can do as owners, pet parents and guardians.
We make the most informed decisions we can.
๐พWe advocate for them.
๐พWe ask questions.
๐พWe seek out veterinary care we feel comfortable with.
๐พWe do our best with the information we have.
And please donโt ever think that old age means nothing can be done.
The first vet I took Poppy to about her teeth declined to do bloods or surgery. I was told the risk was too high, that I just needed to manage it at home, and that bloods wouldnโt be helpful.
But I wasnโt happy with that.
I wanted better for my girl.
And I am so glad I sought another opinion, because her blood work has been invaluable. It has helped both her Vet and I adjust her medications and supplements, improve her quality of life, and make a much more informed decision.
Getting the procedure done was risky, yes. But it also means she now has a better chance of avoiding ongoing infection, pain, and further decline.
Hopefully, it gives her a longer and more comfortable life.
Sitting here with Poppy tonight, snuggled up in bed - I am so grateful I get to help animals live their best lives every day.
Even when itโs hard.
Especially when itโs hard....
Because it is absolutely worth it.......
They are absolutely worth it ๐พ๐ถ๐ฑ๐พ
๐Stacey๐
๐Featuring Poppy post op๐
