05/28/2026
***LOLA UPDATE #1***
Little Lola has officially joined the "gummy grin club!"
And honestly? We are just so relieved for her.
When Lola first came to the sanctuary, we knew her mouth was bad. Really bad. Her breath alone told us there was significant infection, and visually we could already see severe dental disease. But once radiographs were taken during her dental procedure, the true extent of the damage became heartbreakingly clear.
The bone loss in her lower jaw was extensive. In some areas, it had deteriorated so badly that Dr. Mary had to carefully consider whether removing certain deeply rooted teeth could actually fracture Lola’s jaw during surgery. We had discussed this possibility ahead of time and thought there was a chance she might keep her adorable little snaggle tooth simply because her jaw was in such a fragile state.
But the infection and damage had progressed too far.
Those roots were diseased. The surrounding bone was diseased. You could tell by the moth eaten look of her jaw bone in the X-rays. Some of her teeth we being reabsorbed while others were being pushed out of her mouth; her body desperately trying to rid itself of the pain and disease. Leaving them behind would have meant continuing pain, continued infection, and continued deterioration.
So they came out.
Imagine how our little girl must have felt every single day trying to eat, drink, chew, play, or even just hold her mouth closed comfortably. And yet through all of that, Lola was still running around the sanctuary doing zoomies, rolling over for belly rubs, bossing everyone around, and making us laugh daily with her giant personality.
Let’s do the math here for a moment.
Dogs have 42 teeth.
Lola was already missing 31 before surgery.
The remaining 11 teeth all needed to be removed.
That equals years of unnecessary pain and suffering for a creature that doesn't deserve it.
Dogs hide pain incredibly well.
That is why dental health matters so much.
It is not just about bad breath. All dogs having bad breath is a myth and it is actually one of the first signs that dental care is needed. Dental disease affects the entire body. Infection in the mouth enters the bloodstream and impacts major organs including the heart, kidneys, and liver. Once organ damage occurs, it often cannot be reversed, only managed.
Please let Lola be a reminder to advocate for your pets. Routine dental care, yearly exams, dental cleanings, and daily dental chews truly matter. Preventative care costs hundreds less than advanced dental disease like Lolas requiring multiple extractions, lengthy anesthesia, radiographs, medications, and intensive recovery.
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We cannot say enough wonderful things about Dr. Mary and the entire surgical team at Sunrise Veterinary Services, Reedsburg, WI. Lola’s procedure was delicate and complicated because of both the severe bone loss and her significant 5/6 heart murmur. Her technicians monitored her constantly throughout surgery, adjusting and watching every detail to keep her safe, stable, warm, and comfortable, and again after surgery making sure she remained pain free. We are so grateful for the care they gave our spicy little girl.
Senior dogs like Lola are often prematurely euthanized in shelters because their care is expensive, complicated, and uncertain. But how could you meet a dog like this and not fight for her? She has so much life left in her. So much joy. So much love.
Because of your generosity, we were able to give Lola this second chance at comfort. Her dental procedure totaled $1,438 and so far we have raised $690 toward that cost. We did need to dip into our savings to move forward with her surgery and could still use help covering the remaining balance. So if you feel moved to be a part of Lola's life saving surgery please check out the DONATE button attached to our previous post here:
Seeing Lola now, curled up comfortably and beginning to heal, we know every single bit of this journey was worth it and we look forward to having her hopping around the sanctuary, sassy and joyful once again, but this time PAIN FREE!
