Mum to Emma Posted October 13, 2016 Share Posted October 13, 2016 Does anyone have any experience with root canals and dogs? My whippet has broken his upper carnassial and the options are extraction or root canal. My initial thought was to go with the latter (despite the cost - he's been a wonderfully healthy dog and owes me nothing) as l worry about what the loss of such a significant tooth will mean to his facial structure. The vet has said they're difficult to remove but that they do it all the time. But there are no guarantees with a root canal either, as any human who has had one will tell you. The specialist said some owners elect to X-ray after 12 months to make sure that everything is ok .. at an additional $800. What do you think? His mouth is otherwise very healthy. And he's just turned 9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 I would just extract the tooth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottsmum Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 I would just extract the tooth Me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 14, 2016 Share Posted October 14, 2016 provided the vet is experienced with tooth extraction ..just pull it :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Podengo Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 An additional Xray for $800??? Sure it's not $80? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum to Emma Posted October 15, 2016 Author Share Posted October 15, 2016 (edited) Yes, $800 It's a series of X-rays, probably with a precise dental X-ray such as is used on us humans. The root canal would be approximately $2800 (and I doubt that includes the $300 I've already spent). Yes I'm leaning towards just having it removed. The 'problem' will be solved once and for all whereas there's a chance the root canal won't work or he may break it in future. And I'm not keen on him being under an anaesthetic for the couple of hours it should take. Edited October 15, 2016 by Mum to Emma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scottsmum Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 Yeh + simple maths says if you leave it 12 months - your old dog will be older and I always get nervy - I'd rather just get it done and out of the way now - not 12 months down the track. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blitz Posted October 15, 2016 Share Posted October 15, 2016 My whippet had both removed (she fractured them somehow) 6 years ago, her face looks fine, she has been active and has shown no ill effects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cavNrott Posted October 16, 2016 Share Posted October 16, 2016 One of my GSD's had both carnassials extracted and his facial features didn't change, neither did his eating habits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum to Emma Posted October 29, 2016 Author Share Posted October 29, 2016 By way of follow up, my boy had his tooth removed and was behaving 24 hours later as if nothing has happened. Curiously they didn't stitch the opening. The nurse said they prefer to leave it to drain. Everything I read on the net led me to expect stitches. But he's a very experienced vet. The one everyone queues for, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 By way of follow up, my boy had his tooth removed and was behaving 24 hours later as if nothing has happened. Curiously they didn't stitch the opening. The nurse said they prefer to leave it to drain. Everything I read on the net led me to expect stitches. But he's a very experienced vet. The one everyone queues for, great news :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
*kirty* Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 My boss's dog is having a root canal next week so if anyone is interested, I can let you know how it goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mum to Emma Posted November 1, 2016 Author Share Posted November 1, 2016 Yes, that would be interesting. We're lucky that this is available to us in Melbourne as it's not commonly done. Aas I understand it there's only and handful of veterinary dental specialists in Australia and only one in Melbourne. What put me off was the lack of guarantee of results (as with any root canal, including humans). Being a molar, they are fraught with complications. If it was a canine, I would have been more likely to go ahead as (I assume) the cost would have been less, being only one root. I'd be interested to know how long your bosses dog is anaesthetised. Root canals are slow processes in humans. One would assume they're the same with dogs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappie Posted November 2, 2016 Share Posted November 2, 2016 By way of follow up, my boy had his tooth removed and was behaving 24 hours later as if nothing has happened. Curiously they didn't stitch the opening. The nurse said they prefer to leave it to drain. Everything I read on the net led me to expect stitches. But he's a very experienced vet. The one everyone queues for, It should still heal well. Often a matter of preference, or necessity to leave extraction sites open however I now predominantly do 'surgical' extractions with gingival flaps and find the healing time to be quite rapid. In many cases having no tooth is much more comfortable than a fractured one no matter how it was extracted Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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