tartar nom what a thing to blather about tartar tartar tartar tartar tartar! 070312 ... ovenbird Not a topic I really expected to think about in any depth, but the thing is that my dog’s teeth are a museum to tartar. Despite the chews he has. Despite my (admittedly patchy) brushing. Despite dental work just a year ago that cost me so many dollars it’s hard to even believe. When I peer into his mouth I have to see the evidence of my negligence. He looks like he’s smoked a pack a day his whole life and chased it with six cups of coffee. And I feel my own shame asserting itself–I love this dog more than most people. Yet I haven’t brushed his teeth diligently enough. And now he’s going to need dental work again. Which will mean so much money and also suffering for him because he’ll have to go under anaesthetic and stay at the vet’s all day and this really could have been avoided if I’d just brushed his teeth more, but it somehow slipped my mind endlessly amidst all the other things to do and now his teeth are muddy peaks and it’s all my fault. Guilt is a snap trap I keep stepping into, my body crushed by its spring loaded jaws. If I was good my dog’s teeth would be shining pearls. But I am not good. If I can’t even keep his teeth clean how will I ensure he lives forever? How will I ever live with the stain of his leaving? 260519 what's it to you? who go blather from