he had four teeth pulled 😳

If you're new here (hi!👋), we've had a bit of a saga with Winston and his fractured teeth and, after sharing this with the lovely readers of this newsletter, have discovered *so much* about the risk of hard chews (including Yak chews, hooves, etc,), the "fingernail test", whether fillings are ever a good idea, and so much more. You can catch up on all of that in last week's newsletter.

Yesterday afternoon, I collected Winston from the vets after his tooth extraction. He was supposed to have two pulled (his back left and right molars), but ended up having four removed after an x-ray also found issues with two teeth on the bottom right.

Note: these teeth weren't pulled due to decay/gum disease - the vet was actually very happy with the overall cleanliness of his teeth! - but because they were broken (likely due to a too-hard chew or chicken bone he'd grabbed off the street).

The teeth highlighted in orange are all the ones he had removed. There are also two to keep an eye on (beside the bottom two that were pulled).

Apparently there are small pockets around these teeth that are more likely to trap bacteria and cause (faster) decay. So, when we go back to regular brushing, these are areas we will focus on.

When I collected him at 5.30pm yesterday, he was wobbly on his feet and very whiney. The vet assured me this is totally normal, and Winston's version of slurring his words and rambling nonsense the way humans do when they have anaesthetic or gas and air during a dental procedure.

He's on mushy food for the next week (I'm adding water to his homemade food), a daily anti-inflammatory, and 1.5 pain killer tablets each day.

He was in much brighter spirits this morning and even tried to grab a mangy piece of something off the street, which tells me he's almost back to his usual (piggy) self 😅

We'll watch for signs of infection over the next few days, and have a check-up with the vet on Tuesday.

Thank you so much for all your lovely well wishes. Winston and I cherish them, and if you're going through anything similar, we send you lots of love right back.

And if you haven't already, definitely check out last week's newsletter for all the amazing owner advice about teeth extractions and appropriate chews for corgi teethies.

I learned so much!

Snoot boops and bunny hops,

Winston & Bella x

*Show us those pearly whites! Image from @corgipawsitive*

The importance of good dental hygiene in dogs 🪥

Did you know that 80% of dogs have dental disease by age two?

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems experienced by dogs, but often remains unrecognised by owners as a major welfare issue.

Bad teeth and gums can lead to other, more serious issues, including kidney and heart disease.

But owners often don't realise there's an issue because dogs can go on eating even when they're in pain, masking the severity of the problem.

This is why it's so important to get into a regular tooth brushing routine with your corgi. It's not always easy at first (it took Winston some getting used to!), but now he's pretty comfortable sitting on my lap for a couple of minutes 3-4x per week while my husband brushes his teeth.

We use machine-washable fabric finger toothbrushes like these (instead of a traditional brush).

*Meet Ollie the Cowboy Corgi* *@ollie.the.cowboy*

A potted history of the Cowboy Corgi crossbreed

Somewhere in the last few decades, ranchers in the US started crossing Pembroke Welsh Corgis with Australian Cattle Dogs (Blue Heelers) to create what's now called a Cowboy Corgi — a compact 25-to-40lb dog with two herding breeds in its DNA and, by all accounts, twice the energy.

Both parent breeds were bred to nip at cattle heels. The Corgi's short frame keeps them under the kick line; the Cattle Dog brings weather resilience and stamina.

Hit reply if you've got a Cowboy Corgi! We'd love to see a photo.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT:

We recommend...

Self-adhesive first-aid wrap that sticks to itself (not fur) is great to have in the cupboard just in case. For paw grazes, dew-claw nicks, and every small on-walk injury a stubby-legged corgi manages to find on a Wednesday evening. Around $10 for six rolls — the single most useful thing in a home dog first-aid kit.

RESCUE DOGS AVAILABLE:

Meet Holly

Holly is a 2-year-old, 12kg female corgi mix rescued from the dog meat trade by Saving Harbin Dogs. She needs a patient home — she takes time to acclimatize to new people and can be selective with other dogs. Saving Harbin places dogs into the UK, Europe, and Canada. Email corgis.savingharbindogs@gmail.com to enquire.

In case you missed it...

🤠 Cowboy Corgi: Everything You Need To Know! + Owner Q&A

In this article, you'll find out more about the Cowboy Corgi, their common traits, what you can expect from them, and the importance of responsible breeding. Plus, there's a Q&A with the lovely owner of gorgeous Ollie the Cowboy Corgi!

Corgi of the day

Beautiful Olive sunbathing on the windowsill, sent in by Joseph 🥺

Isn't she a beautiful sun angel? 🌞

P.S. I've got an update on last week's corgi of the day, Freyr (and her rosettes!), which I'll share with you in the next newsletter!

Reply with a photo of your adorable Corgi, their name, and a few words about why they're so special to be featured in the newsletter! Check out our growing gallery of Corgi Companions here.