Most dogs heartily object to having a toothbrush jabbed into their mouth, at least at first. But most will accept their owner’s finger.

So, wrap a piece of gauze around your index finger, get it wet, and then dab it in some baking soda or dog toothpaste. Gently rub it on your dog’s teeth. It’s that simple!

But sometimes, even with all your best efforts, dental problems can occur.

A red line on the gums at the base of the teeth shows an irritation is beginning.

Other signs of dental disease include drooling, a lack of appetite, difficulty eating, or loose teeth. Take your dog to the veterinarian if you see any of these symptoms.

That’s what Lucy’s mom did when she noticed Lucy having several of these symptoms. Lucy is a “fiesty little firecracker” Chihuahua that rules her family’s rules with iron paws.

She was found wandering the streets as a puppy and was rescued by her mom.

Knowing that Chihuahuas were one of the breeds notorious for having dental issues, Lucy’s mom had brushed Lucy’s teeth for as long as Lucy had been with her.

But, even with her best efforts, Lucy’s teeth began to deteriorate. When she went in for her spay surgery (because her mom is so responsible! Kudos!) the veterinarian had to pull four of Lucy’s rotten teeth.

Sadly, however, this didn’t stop the problem.

When Lucy started being a bit depressed and no longer wanted to play her favorite games, fetch and tug of war with baby socks, her mom knew it was time that something had to be done.

With a good prognosis from the family veterinarian who did her pre-surgery checkup, Lucy was referred to Carmel Valley Veterinary Hospital for multiple teeth extractions.

But they had no idea how expensive that was going to be…Lucy’s parents were horrified! They just couldn’t afford it.

Luckily, they had heard about Max’s Helping Paws Foundation (MHPF) through the Animal Welfare Assistance Group (A.W.A.G.).

From there, Carmel Valley Veterinary Hospital sponsored Lucy to receive assistance from MHPF, and within 2 days MHPF was able to give the Brandts a grant to help with the cost of surgery.

Lucy’s mom had said from the beginning that giving up was not an option!

If she did not qualify to receive assistance from MHPF, then she was prepared to go door to door asking neighbors to help chip in.

And those are exactly the kinds of pet parents Max’s Helping Paws was created to support: The kind that are willing to do whatever necessary to give their pets the best life possible, no matter what.

As Lucy said:

“What Max’s Helping Paws Foundation is doing is a miracle to those of us who want the best for their pet but can’t afford it.”

Lucy had a total of fifteen teeth extracted and even though she only has three teeth left, she is a happy little dog. And, yes, she still plays fetch and tug of war with socks!

Indeed, she lost a lot of teeth, but she definitely hasn’t lost any of her spunk.

The best part is that now with all the rotten teeth gone, her mom can once again enjoy getting kisses from Lucy.

Than’s Max’s Helping Paws, and Lucy’s mom for going the extra mile to keep deserving animals safe, happy and healthy!

Source: Max’s Helping Paws

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