Dog Community

What's happening to her teeth?

Posted : 5/5/2013 11:26:31 AM

I'm on my way to the vet next week but would like to pick your brain on this. Ribbon is 18 months old. I noticed a couple of weeks ago she had developed a dark spot (brown/tartar?) on the top of both her upper canines. I was a little shocked because of her age. There does not appear to be any other plaque or tartar build up on her teeth. She eats a high quality dry kibble and she has a rawhide chew daily and the occasional raw bone to chew on. Last week I went to the pet store and bought a brush and toothpaste, dental wipes and some bigger chews and a bag of greenies. As I started brushing her teeth the first thing I saw was the tip of her bottom canine was broken off. I checked out some photos I had taken a month earlier. It was not broken in the pic so it happened recently. Moving along I then see she only as 3 teeth in the top front instead of 4. Sitting behind where the tooth should be is a bump about 1/2 the size of a pea. It does not look red or discoloured. I have been brushing her teeth daily but the tartar(?) on her canines is not coming off at all. It feels rough at the dark spot almost like a cavity.

I really have no idea about the dark spots as she is still so young and eats good foods. The broken and missing teeth I suspect could have resulted from the fact she and her doggie friends tend to grab at each other's collars when they get running around and wrestling. I would have thought however there would have at least been some blood from the missing tooth if this were the case.

tacran

Posted : 5/5/2013 3:25:12 PM

I don't know anything about canine dental issues, but is it possible that some dogs are just predisposed to more tooth decay than others? Some people have more teeth issues than others, just due to hereditary/genetic differences. I'm guessing she's too young to have it be the result of long-term use of some kind of drug or food that is creating excessive plaque or decay. For example, children who take tetracycline for long periods can have permanent discoloration of their adult teeth.

It would probably cost a pretty penny, but I wonder if a vet who specializes in canine dentistry would be worth seeing? Hopefully someone comes along with some helpful insight. Just wanted to say I hope you can figure out what's going on with Ribbon's toofers!

calliecritturs

Posted : 5/5/2013 4:38:11 PM

Gosh Denise -- I've got precious little experience with stuff like that. I've seen a dog break a tooth and have no problems with it and I've seen others where the tooth just died or abscessed. The only way is to have the vet look at it. That bump could be nothing or it could be an abscess -- how reluctant is Ribbon to eat right now?? Is Ribbon more cranky than usual?

denise m

Posted : 5/6/2013 6:43:33 PM

I won't be surprised if my vet sends us off to the 'doggy dentist' - that's his MO. Of course my mind always goes to the over use of medication as I have a personal aversion to them, but you are probably right in that there has been no long term usage. She was on antibiotics for about 6wks when she was first home as a puppy. She has no problem eating, that's for sure. She does have what I refer to as a wet mouth. Not so much a droller but a dripper. I know in humans the acidity level in our saliva can effect our teeth. Something to ask about.

Anyways having just paid $1,200 for her little 'episode' last month I'm not looking forward to the vet visit - ouch!

marlania

Posted : 5/7/2013 9:08:09 PM

It the tooth itself kind of grayish, or it is just a spot? Many years ago, Brown broke a small piece off of one of his canine teeth. He used to chew these sterilized beef bones that were hard enough to kill someone with (accidentally kicking them hurt like hell too lol). He chewed so much for so long that he eventually killed the tooth. Eventually, it turned gray; however, it was still secure in his gums, so the vet said that there was no reason to remove it. It's still there to this day, and he's 14 now.

4HAND

Posted : 5/8/2013 12:23:55 PM

Just a thought,Noel damaged and lost teeth when she was young by chewing on the crate bars.