2022 Success Sally Mae

This is Sally Mae, a 9-year-old American Staffordshire Terrier. At the end of 2021, Sally Mae’s mom brought her to the vet who said Sally Mae had some bad teeth, and in the near future would need to have her teeth cleaned and removed.  

Sally Mae's mom was unemployed for a while, but is back at work and was trying to save some funds for Sally Mae to have her bad teeth removed; however, Sally Mae started showing signs of pain before her mom had enough money saved. Eventually Sally Mae stopped eating all together, and that had her mom very concerned. 

Fur Kids Foundation receives a lot of requests to help dogs with dental disease, which can affect 80% of all dogs by age two. It can also be quite painful. According to Banfield Pet Hospital, there are four stages of periodontal disease, progressing from plaque and mildly inflamed gums to established gingivitis (gum disease), and then on to mild and ultimately severe periodontitis, which may involve bone and/or tooth loss.

Periodontal disease begins when bacteria in the mouth creates plaque that sticks to the surface of the teeth. Plaque will then harden to form tartar, which is visible above the gum line. The real problem develops when the bacteria begins to damage the supporting tissues around the tooth, eventually leading to the loss of the tooth; this is called periodontitis. If left untreated, periodontal disease may cause multiple problems in the mouth including bone infections and weakening the jaw bone, and may be associated with damage to internal organs in some patients as they age.

Signs of periodontal disease include: 

• Bad breath
• Bleeding from the mouth.
• Drooling or dropping food from the mouth.
• Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar.
• Loss of appetite or loss of weight (this combination can result from diseases of many organs, and early veterinary examination is important).
• Your pet shies away from you when you touch the mouth area.

If your pet is exhibiting some of these symptoms, they may need some dental work done. Please make an appointment with your veterinarian. 

Sally Mae’s mom applied to Fur Kids Foundation for help with surgically removing the infected teeth. We are happy to report that Sally Mae went through her dental surgery fine, and is already feeling so much better–and has a beautiful smile. We're happy we were able to help Sally Mae and her mom, and the only way we can continue to help families like this one is from generous donors like you. 

Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition in cats and dogs, yet it's completely preventable by keeping your fur kids’ teeth clean—aka, brush their teeth or schedule regular dental cleanings with your vet! Be sure to speak with your vet about how you can maintain your pet’s dental health from home after a dental cleaning. 

For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your veterinarian.

About Fur Kids Foundation
Fur Kids Foundation is 100% run by dedicated volunteers who give their time to help the Foundation raise money with events, take applications, and spread the word about the good work the Foundation does in Campbell County, Wyoming. If you would like to help Fur Kids Foundation continue to help local families with animals afford emergency veterinary care, please consider making a tax-deductible donation via PayPal or signing up to become a volunteer. Read more Success Stories.

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