Can ice cubes crack my dog's teeth or enamel on a hot day?

Dental fractures and accidents can occur with some of the very hard chew toys and I generally do not recommend these for use long term or when not directly supervised. Short periods of chewing can be good for dental health but I prefer the softer toys or rope toys to prevent cracked and broken teeth

Yes, ice can be a perfect treat for your puppy. It can keep her entertained, cool her off, and act as a treat without adding any extra calories to her diet. Just be sure to monitor her while she is chewing on the cubes to make sure she doesn't choke. If she does swallow one too quickly or begin to choke don't panic, remember it's only ice and will most likely melt before causing an issue! I'm glad you are finding Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach so helpful! Thanks for all your questions. Best of luck.

Great question! I wouldn't give Chloe ice cubes when she is extremely hot and possibly suffering from heat stroke. You can give her ice cubes in her water as long as she isn't overheated, and you can give them to her to chew on when she's inside the cool house. I hope this helps :-)

You are correct that very hard objects can break the teeth and a broken teeth may need to be removed to prevent pain and future infections. The only way to know if there is damage to any teeth is to have Bruno examined by the veterinarian. Plus it will set your mind at ease. Try to get this done within the next few days. Best of luck.

Hi there. This is a very good question. Based on the photo, this type of tooth fracture is usually referred to as a "slab fracture". Dogs often get these from chewing on hard objects like bones or rocks. Although I can't see too well on the picture, I would be concerned about the pulp cavity being exposed. This is the area that runs throughout the length of the tooth carrying blood supply and nutrients to the tooth. If exposed, there is a greater likelihood that the tooth can become infected and decay quite rapidly. It can also cause pain in the mouth. Freddie's veterinarian can check with a dental probe to see if the pulp cavity is exposed. Sometimes this can be done while the dog is awake, but sometimes it has to be done under sedation or anesthesia. If Freddie has a bit of tartar, you can just schedule a teeth cleaning and his vet can check it out then. If the pulp cavity is exposed, extracting the tooth is recommended to avoid infection and pain. Once Freddie's tooth is removed, he probably won't miss it. A soften diet and no chew toys for a couple of weeks and he'd be good to go. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

I would only place a few ice cubes in the bowl so that your pet doesn’t get a brain freeze type headache. Otherwise it should be fine. Just also keep in mind that keeping your pet in the shade (if left outside), leaving inside of temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and providing fans are more effective methods of cooling off your pet. Best wishes with Hazel moving forward. Take care!

Broken teeth can be prone to abscesses. Bella is very close to the age where she will start shedding her teeth but I still recommend to have her seen by her veterinarian to be safe. Moving forward, do not allow her to chew on very hard objects. As a general rule, if you cannot make an indentation with your thumb nail in a toy, you run the risk that it could break her teeth if she is an aggressive chewer. Also make sure she is not chewing on the bars of her kennel as this will break teeth as well. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.