Or as the vet calls it "slab fracture to upper left carnaisal". It's that big tooth in the back. The vet's best guess is he broke it on either the nylabone or the antler. (both are being removed from the household)
Anyway, I'm wondering about which course to take. Have it pulled or capped (I guess that's how they refer to it too in the doggy world too). I have insurance that will reimburse me if I have it pulled. But it does not cover "cosmetic procedures". The vet says pulling it won't make any difference to him. And quite honestly, he does not chew his food anyway, he inhales it!! But I still wonder about long term. He's only 3. What is everyone elses thoughts and/or experiences?
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actually just found a really good study about canine tooth fractures in case anyone else is interested:
http://www.fecava.org/files/ejcap/EJCAP%2020-3%20p%20230_235%20Schr...
Hi Brian,
I did end up having the tooth pulled. And he came through it like a champ!! I honestly don't remember if they did an xray. My vet was pretty certain the pulp was exposed. She also said she was quite certain he was in much pain but was being "very brave" about it. But they did do general anesthesia to extract the tooth. And at the same time did a thorough cleaning. He was on soft food (which for us was pouring water on his kibble to soften it) for two weeks and antibiotic. I have not regretted my decision to have the tooth pulled. And Griffyn has shown no signs that it is a detrement in anyway to him.
I've had 3 root canals. I can't pay my dentist enough. Think about wild animals, with no dental care at all. Same goes for most people in this world.
Teeth are important, and those carnasials are huge teeth. But our pets are pampered animals, and can survive easily with missing teeth. Not so in the wild, I'd guess.
My corgi fractured the same tooth (only on her right side) a few weeks ago chewing on rawhides (I know, I should have known better..). I was torn between the exact same decisions, and it ultimately came down to what the radiograph (x-ray) looked like. Two of the roots had abscessed from getting infected from the fracture; if it had only been one root then the possibility of saving the tooth might have there, but with two roots abscessed it made the most sense to pull it. She's doing great now, and despite the loss of a huge tooth, she's still a chow hound (only now with softer toys). She's 3 years old as well. If money is an issue, then pulling the tooth is a completely reasonable solution, especially since saving the tooth might require travelling to a specialist. If that's not an issue to you, then I'd see what the radiographs look like to guide you and your vet in which route may be the most practical. In my experience they do just fine without the tooth. She was on soft food for two weeks after to let it heal (as well as antibiotics and pain meds) and now she's back on her regular food and chews it like nothing's changed. I'm also a bit more strict in what I allow her to have as far as chew toys are concerned--no more rawhides or nylabones, she now has to deal with softer more rubbery toys, which at first she wasn't keen on, but now she realizes that's her only option so she's been gnawing on it happily, though I do have to watch her with it in case she bites off pieces of the toy because she is still quite the power-chewer when she wants to be!
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