My Ancient Toothless Pug Dilemma

Vets are a puzzle to me, I don't think I have ever met one I can say I actually related well to. My two most recent encounters with vets have cost me an absolute fortune and I am no closer to solving the problem.

My dear, ancient, toothless pug Annie has developed a cough; a loud, hollow, ongoing cough. When she coughs her whole body heaves poor thing! She has always had a forlorn look about her, but recently her eyes have filled with a watery sadness that is hard to ignore.

 I took her to a conventional vet who informed me that she has kennel cough and this of course made me feel responsible because I had not given her her most recent vaccination.  Well, 250 dollars later she did not improve, and the antibiotics did not work, the cough has persisted.

 The second vet took a less conventional approach, he checked her blood, looked in her mouth, listened to her heart and told me that some of her remaining teeth were rotten and that this was causing her infection in her mouth and resulting in a cough. 350 dollars later she is home with an ongoing cough, a new diet of raw chicken frames and broccoli and carrots and antibiotics for three weeks.......and an autoimmune booster powder, but there's still the on going cough. I was advised by him that the chances are that she will not survive a general anaesthetic to have the teeth out at the age of 14 years and so I sit with my dilemma.......and reflect........
How will it be one day when I am ancient and sickly and who will decide what is best for me?

I may feel old at 50 years, but I have my health......something to really value!