Puppy Canine Loose

[Mason_Gibbs]

I was just wondering if it's normal if a pup has a loose canine tooth for the gum around there to be very red and their face to be just a little swollen or is it always a sign that there is a problem? Puppy acting normal etc, he has had a tooth abscess on the other side when he was 10 weeks old, he was very very swollen and screaming in pain.

[Jumabaar]

Acting normal with teeth means nothing. A dog that had lost half its teeth after biting a whipper snipper was still happy to eat with pulp exposed!

If the face is swollen I would be going to the vet.

[Mason_Gibbs]

No not my dog he is very bad with pain!

[Jumabaar]

No not my dog he is very bad with pain!

Yes they can show pain, but their survival instincts do mean that dogs cover pain and wait to show it until the problem is advanced. Other signs such as swelling my precede indications of pain. One of my boys fell off a step and screamed and limped for an hr (no injury could be found and he didn't show any signs of pain 3hrs later), but didn't say boo about a fractured toe 6mths later.

Swelling and redness are both signs of infection. It is impossible for someone to diagnose if this is the case without visual and tactile examination. I am just saying that these signs are far more important than a puppy that is still acting normally.

Redness alone wouldn't bother me, but swelling of the face would- since this was the only indication that i had of a tooth root abscess forming after my pup fractured her canine (I didn't even realise she had fractured it until I had a close look). She was bouncing off the walls right up until the vet gave her the anaesthetic drugs

Edited November 22, 2011 by Jumabaar

[Mason_Gibbs]

Both of his canines ( the one he had the abscess with) and this one are both fractured - I don't know what he did to his puppy teeth but I hope he doesn't continue in this fashion, been at the vet weekly since I got him, last week it was for a sesamoid injury.... Week before stomach upset... And and and

[Jumabaar]

Both of his canines ( the one he had the abscess with) and this one are both fractured - I don't know what he did to his puppy teeth but I hope he doesn't continue in this fashion, been at the vet weekly since I got him, last week it was for a sesamoid injury.... Week before stomach upset... And and and

If it is fractured then I would be up to the vet NOW!! Leaving in fractured baby teeth can result in damage to the Adult teeth (which can weaken them and cause further dental problems later). It sounds as this one has become infected so at the very LEAST he needs to be on antibiotics.

http://www.sydneypetdentistry.com.au/faq-vet/what-to-do-if-you-see-a-broken-pet-tooth/

If your vet is unsure on what to do get them to call Christine at Sydney Pet Dental and she will be happy to talk to them (Her mobile is on that website)

*Just to add I don't work for Christine but I am a vet student that has seen her work, and how much pain dogs can be in and not show it.

[Mason_Gibbs]

There is a tooth specialist that comes to the practice, only the bottom of the tooth was broken which is why it want removed. He has an appointment for this arvo.