My pup is 5 months old in 3 days time. We went to the park this morning, nothing obvious occurred, but on our return I noticed she is missing the tip of one of her upper canines. She is eating and drinking normally, chomped her way through a raw carrot without showing any signs of discomfort and is behaving normally. I know she has all her adult incisors and some molars are erupting too so I'm assuming the worst and that this is her adult tooth. Does anyone have any experience of this? We are at the vets on Wednesday for a general check but I will ring on Monday to see if I should bring her in earlier, and obviously over the weekend if she seems in any way uncomfortable. Thanks, Helen
Oh Helen,personally I haven't got any experience but if that was me I'd be straight to the vet.They are so stoic,they can be in a lot of pain and not show it.I'm no expert of course but the centre of that tooth looks exposed to me and that has got to be painful.... Kate's Sam chipped a tooth I'm sure and I know that Rachael (Oberon) is pretty knowledgeable about teeth as Obi had teeth problems ,all be it of a different nature. Poor little puppy,I'd definately get her checked out x
I'm not really sure, but looking at the other side that still looks like a sharp puppy canine to me. I've just had a look at Stanleys and his are much bigger and not as sharp as that. I would nip to the vet too just to get checked out
Thanks for your replies- I have rung the vet and they are hopeful it is a puppy tooth as it broke apparently easily and she doesn't seem in pain. I read that dogs are very stoic with dental pain and I have been watching her like a hawk. She is still chewing on that side, is happy for me to touch the tooth and has been chasing the broom and hose as usual. The vet said if she stays as she is to take her in on Monday and any problems in the meantime to ring back. Feel a bit better having spoken to someone, why do these things always happen st the weekend!
Oh no, poor doggy. She will be in pain even if she's not showing it. Hopefully it's a puppy tooth. Either way I'd be getting a referral to a veterinary dentist. Just as human GPs don't specialise in dealing with teeth, vets don't either and so teeth are a job for a specialist. If it's an adult tooth and anyone tells you to leave it alone and do nothing then this is wrong. With a broken tooth, especially with pulp exposed (as your dog has) leaving the tooth alone is never right. Options include removal (very major deal for a canine tooth due to the huge roots and the weakening effect removal has on the jaw), capping (if you get to it soon enough and enough of the tooth is still alive) or a root canal.
Thanks for your replies. Having done lots of reading and looking at the size of her teeth I am hopeful it is a baby tooth. I had a good look at it last night when she was snoozing on the couch- she does not react to it being touched and there is no gum swelling or heat, the tooth is a normal colour and there is no sign any bleeding. She is currently chewing well on a frozen kong and eaten her kibble as usual. I will be on the phone to the vets first thing tomorrow. From what I have read even if it is a puppy tooth it may well need extracting, but I have decided to google no further and await the vets opinion tomorrow as I just keep worrying myself more!
I couldn't agree with you more- I am a GP and am amazed how many patients expect me to dish out antibiotics for their dental abscess and then are put out when I tell them I'm not trained to treat dental problems and they need to see a dentist! But that's a whole other topic ...
Just a quick update- took Lucy to the vet today. Good news that it is definitely a baby tooth. Vet said gums were healthy and no sign of infection so wants to monitor things for now- I have to take her back in a fortnight unless anything changes. I am giving her lots of frozen kongs and am hoping the tooth will loosen and fall out by itself- she is 5 months tomorrow so should be losing her baby canines soon I would think?
Oh good!!! Hopefully it will fall out soon...might be another few weeks though as the canines take a bit longer than the rest I think.
