My dog has a bad tooth. What are the vet's treatment options?

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. So this is a “complicated” fracture of the canine- meaning the pulp cavity is exposed. Unfortunately, if Titus walked into my office, I’d recommend scheduling a dental and removing the tooth. Once the pulp cavity is exposed, bacteria can travel up it and cause a deep abscess in the bone. Then you have weeks of antibiotics and still have to do the procedure. This does not always happen, but there is no way to know which case it will happen to. The other option is seeing a dental specialist for a root canal and crown. That being said, it’s not very painful unless he is chewing with it (which he’ll probably avoid). And not much is going to happen in the next two days, or even in the next two months. Don’t put anything on there and just leave it alone. Schedule an appointment when it’s convenient and talk with your vet about your options. Also talk about why he is chewing his crate (often a sign of moderate to severe separation anxiety). And how to prevent future damage to other teeth. Best wishes to you and Titus!

If your vet told you that the teeth needs to be removed, it's probably pretty bad, in that case there is no effective alternative. Usually the vet will start with a scale and polish treatment, then he will remove the teeth that needs to be removed as he goes.

We can't see previous questions and since the doctor that answered your previous question as has not responded, they may no longer be answering questions today. From your question and pictures, I am worried that Kayla has been having some pain or trouble with her mouth. If Kayla has broken the small upper tooth and exposed the pulp cavity (where the blood and nerve supply to the tooth is), the tooth will be painful and the best option will be to remove the tooth. It is possible to do root canals if the injury just happened, but we normally recommend removing small teeth that are broken. If it is not removed, it will continue to be painful and may potentially get infected. Your veterinarian will be able to examine all her other teeth to make sure there aren't any other problems, but she may just have broken that tooth chewing or playing too hard. Good luck! I hope that was helpful and answered your question. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

If it is tooth pain I would consider antibiotics as it may be an underlying infection. I would recommend dental xrays if a veterinarian has that available. They are better to evaluate the teeth then a skull xray as it focuses on each spot individually. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Oscar has a significant amount of tartar buildup on his tooth. His other teeth are likely in similar condition. Ideally, he should be examined by your veterinarian then have a complete dental cleaning. Dental x-rays should be done to have a look below the gum line. A dentistry requires general anesthesia, so blood work may be recommended beforehand.

Tartar buildup on a dog’s teeth is very common. The best way to prevent it is by brushing their teeth daily, usually in the evenings after their last meal. In most cases, unless the pulp cavity (the inner, live part of the tooth) or the crown (the whitish part of the tooth you can see) is damaged there is no need to remove the tooth. With a good dental cleaning (that must be done under general anesthesia) the tartar can be removed and the tooth polished so that the tooth can remain with the dog. If you are going to have a dental performed on your dog ask the veterinarian about performing dental x-rays. This will help determine the viability of the tooth. Once the x-rays are performed the veterinarian can make a better decision on whether or not the tooth needs to be removed. If tartar on the tooth is the only issue, there is no discoloration, cracks or fractures, or anything abnormal about the tooth, your dog will likely be able to keep the tooth. Pricing of dental cleanings very from clinic to clinic. Once you have your initial consultation with your veterinarian they should be able to provide you with an estimate. In the States a typical dental cleaning, depending on the size of dog and the problems present, can be anywhere from $300-$1000. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Please let us know if you have any further questions. Best of luck.

Unfortunately no, there is nothing you can do for Peanut at home. This tooth will likely have to be removed, which can only be done by a vet because it has to be removed under sedation. In addition, she will need antibiotics, which can only be prescribed by a vet. I would take her into the vet first thing Monday. A rotten tooth will be very painful for her, and it should be removed as soon as possible.