Published on: August 25, 2021 • By: brokenshiren · In Forum: Dogs
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Author
Topic
brokenshiren
Participant
August 25, 2021 at 10:46pm
Hello vets.
Teddie is my nearly 7yr old lurcher cross patterdale terrier. I noticed recently that one of his teeth appear broken. I don’t know how long it has been this way. I regularly look at his teeth to check the condition of them but did not notice this before. He isn’t showing any signs of discomfort or pain. He is eating and playing just fine. He doesn’t often get hard chews (maybe a couple times a year). He usually has ‘natural’ chews such as chicken feet, rabbits ears, pigs ears etc. Is this something that we need to show our vet? Will he need the rest removed? Do you think it’s broken or worn down? I assume it’s broken as his other teeth are not worn from what I can tell but I’m no expert!
Thank you for your time! Much appreciated
Hello! You are probably right; despite Teddy's lovely smile it does look as though quite a large tip of that tooth may be missing. Your vet may be able to tell you more about how this happened, but it would be odd to reduce one incisor so much through regular wear and still have the other comparatively long. Therefore I would be wondering about injuries eg from pull-toys or biting something unexpectedly hard (perhaps more unusual for incisors).
Your vet may be able to look more closely at the tooth and tell you more (I am unable see the fracture-line from here). They could also tell you whether this is merely chipped enamel, or whether eg tooth-cavity is exposed. They might, for example, recommend removal.
I hope you won't mind me adding that he's a very handsome dog.
All the best.