Tooth fractures are a very real problem. As an integrative veterinarian for nearly 20 years, it’s not uncommon for me to discover a fractured tooth incidentally during a routine head-to-tail physical examination.
While any tooth in the mouth can fracture, become loose or damaged, or have associated gum problems, the most common tooth to fracture is the fourth premolar. (If you lift up your dog’s top lip from the side and retract that lip gently up and back, you’ll see on the top arcade a big tooth—it’s also called the carnassial tooth. It looks a mountain range upside down.)
Picture your dog’s fourth premolar like a big iceberg. Now picture a slab of that iceberg falling into the ocean. That’s the kind of fracture that happens to a dog’s tooth. The side of the tooth comes off and you’re left with a raw, exposed flat side. (For a case study and images of a fractured premolar, read Benny’s story on Vetdentists.com.) This is a common problem typically caused when a dog chews on something that’s too hard.
fractured tooth is trouble in the making because there’s not a good sealant—the enamel that protects the tooth from infection. Without the enamel, infection can wick up the tooth and into the roots. Your dog can get a tooth root abscess. (If you’ve ever had a root abscess in your tooth, you know that it’s excruciatingly painful and can become very serious.)
Determining whether a chew toy is too hard is not complicated. I learned the following rule from Dr. Fraser Hale, a board-certified veterinary dentist:
The “kneecap smack” rule of thumb limits what your dog should be chewing. For dog owners whose canine companions are heavy chewers, this can be frustrating. However, it can also limit the suffering and pain your dog experiences from a fractured tooth.
Yes, I gave a deer antler to my dog Luke. I’m sad to say it, and I had to remind myself of my own advice about letting go of mom guilt and trusting your intuition.
Most importantly, I hope that by sharing my experience, you’ll learn these three life lessons:
I knew the kneecap rule when I gave my dog the antler. But for some reason, popularity of the commercial market, the advertisements in trade journals, and the fact that antlers are “natural” also factored into the equation. Which brings me to life lesson number two…
While I’d made my dog as happy as a clam at high tide, within an hour, he’d fractured four teeth. I looked at his teeth and immediately recognized what had happened.
After my dog’s short-lived antler chew experience, I reached out to a trusted group of board-certified veterinary dentists and asked for their opinions on antler chews for dogs. They unanimously (there was not one dissenter) agreed that antlers are a sure way to fracture a dog’s teeth.
As your dog’s biggest advocate, I urge you to partner with your veterinarian as a trusted source of information for the long-term health and happiness of your dog. Additionally, it is my passion and my mission to help you help your dog live the happiest, healthiest life possible. I’ll do my personal best to share information that helps you make informed choices in the best interest of your dog.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Dr. Julie Buzby has been an integrative veterinarian for nearly 20 years, having earned certification by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association in 1998, and by the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in 2002. Dr. Buzby is passionate about the power of our relationships with dogs and our ability to positively impact quality of life as dogs age by engaging higher quality of care along the way. She serves as an advisory board member for the Grey Muzzle Organization to help improve the lives of at-risk senior dogs.