Jesse broke a canine tooth

[jes,mag,misty]

Jesse, who is almost 10 years old broke a canine tooth on his nylabone. Our regular vet wants him to see a specialist so we have an appointment Tuesday morning. Of course I'm worried about anesthesia at his age. They said nothing will be done on the first visit except an exam and bloodwork and urine samples taken to make sure he can have anesthesia. If it ends up he needs it pulled, does it affect them very much (healthwise)? He's been a very healthy boy. He is the best dog and just makes our lives happier with his great personality and loving manner.
If you have experienced teeth issues, I'd love to hear your experiences, good or bad.
Thanks!
Robbie

[dd]

My boy broke two teeth on a bone a couple of years ago. We considered restoration work, but the cost was prohibitive and the specialist told us it could break again at any time, so we had both teeth pulled. The only issue we have had is that the remaining facing teeth on each side have no friction and so tend to accumulate more tartar. Even extra brushing has not helped with that. He manages fine, just eats some things more slowly and occasionally gets biscuits stuck in the gap.

Hope your boy will do well.

[3K9Mom]

Upper or lower canine tooth?

[JKlatsky]

Oh no! I'm so sorry Robbie!

I would ask Debby on Sunday, I think Bella had a tooth issue, and since she's at the Vet school she'll probably have seen other cases like that and know what they usually say.

I know I've heard about dogs that ended up with replacements, but those were usually biting dogs who needed the teeth. I've seen little dogs missing so many teeth they almost have no jaw, and they eat softened kibble and otherwise seem to be just fine.

Please keep us updated! I hope everything works out.

[3K9Mom]

Regarding assurances, Zamboni (my 15 year old) has had two RCTs (root canals) one of them led to an extraction later on. Plus an additional extraction. She lost the big chewing molars (the top ones) which are pretty important in the whole scheme of things. She has soft teeth, and I used to let her eat beef bones when I was young and naive. She does just fine. I watch her eat, and I break big snacks (like Merrick lamb fillets) into bite size pieces. Sometimes, a small bit of kibble goes down without being amply chewed and she coughs it up. (This sounds worse than it is). But she still chews rawhides and is always looking to snag the younger dogs' bones. I brush her teeth, and my vet (who is a dentist) says everything looks great. So yeah, it's do-able.

I don't even think about it, really, other than keeping an eye on her during dinner, which I do with my raw-fed dog anyhow. And I know she isn't bothered by it at all. She just eats, happily.

[Betty]

Doc had a tooth pulled not too long ago with no ill effects at all Robbie. I was a bit worried about it because the damage to the tooth actualy came from something penetrating the gum and an infection had set in.

[arycrest]

When Honey was 9 or 10 I had to take her up to the U of FL dental specialist because she had a broken upper fang. The specialist reviewed her records and recommended that I have the fang pulled instead of getting her a root canal. She had the surgery and did fine. She's 13 now and has never had a problem with the missing tooth.

[jes,mag,misty]

Thanks everyone. It is his upper canine. It is not broken to the gum. Just sort of splintered off the very tip and along the side.I soak my dogs Canidae anyhow so being hard to chew food probably wouldn't be a problem but he LOVES to chew his nylabone every evening right after he eats supper. He grabs a bone and heads to my bed while I am watching TV.
Katie, I will talk to Debby Sunday at class. I'm not sure why my dr. didn't recommend U of FL. I'd rather go there than Jacksonville.
Thanks Betty, I'm glad Doc is ok.
I am thankful it is a canine instead of molars. I'm glad everyone's dogs have been fine after having root canals and teeth pulled.
Thanks,
Robbie

[JenM66]

Nope, no biggie. You can get a cap made if you so choose. We do a lot of dentals where I work. As long as the presurgical blood work comes back okay you should be fine. I'd also ask about 'cardiopet' - it's like a human EKG - another check we do on seniors before anesthesia. Good luck

[wolfstraum]

Kyra had a canine broken at about 9 months, and I did have a cap done. At 9+ it is still there, did 7 years of regular bitework with that cap too! With an older dog who is not doing bitework, I would think that a cap is not necessary - it is not a growing tooth that needs to be protected. If necessary, a simple extraction should not be a big deal. Really, I think the risks of anesthesia are not as high as many cite, I know that in my friends equine clinic, in 15 years of near daily surgery, only 2 times did they loose an animal under anesthesia.

Lee