My dog has a missing tooth. Is it infected? When to see a vet?

Hi there and thank you for using pet coach to address your concern. Judging from the pictures you provided, the tooth looks as though it was quite infected especially if it fell out on its own. A lot of times, teeth that are this infected that Fall out have also lost some of the root characteristics. By this I mean the roots will sometimes appear as though they are missing or very rounded and short as opposed to their healthier appearance. A lot of times these teeth will have a black discoloration if the tooth is dead or may appear black due to the Tartar and plaque that has grown on the surface of the tooth. Flushing with saline is fine and the hole where the tooth previously was should heal on its own now that the problematic tooth is out of the tooth socket. I would definitely consider keeping him on antibiotics and also do what we call Pulse antibiotic therapy. I did this with my own dog and would Place him on a course of antibiotics every other month at a high dose using clindamycin as my primary choice as it is very good for bone and dental infections. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction. Please feel free to contact me if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available by phone or text based consultation if needed.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Jolene. Unfortunately, the only way to tell for definitively if the tooth has been infected is to take an x-ray of her mouth. The area above her gumline does appear red. If it is possible to move her surgery sooner, that would be ideal. However, as long as she is eating, drinking and she does not experience a swelling of her muzzle, then you can likely wait. I hope this information helps!

The canine tooth looks like it might have a little evidence of gingivitis but it can be difficult to tell from a picture. I also would not prescribe antibiotics for dental disease in most situations - if the tooth is infected removing it is the best treatment option. Even though the tooth probably will fall out there may be other diseased teeth since it can be difficult to evaluate the extent of disease without sedation - you may want to ask your vet about a dental cleaning or if your vet does not do this procedure see another vet.

Your dog needs to be seen by a veterinarian right away. He could have an infected tooth/teeth and need extractions and a dental cleaning as soon as possible. Infected gums and teeth can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream that can adversely affect your dog's heart. This problem needs to be addressed now.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is hard to tell from the pictures but it looks like Ginger may have broken her tooth. I recommend making an appointment with your vet when they open to take a look at it. Though she isn’t acting painful, it may become painful or infected. There isn’t anything you can do at home and no safe medications you can give for pain. If it is broken, she will likely need to undergo anesthesia to have the tooth removed. The vet that looks at it will be able to help more once a diagnosis is made. Good luck and kisses to Ginger!

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear about Mars' troubles. It's a bit hard to see from the pictures but the tooth definitely looks a little bit discolored. And it almost looks like what we call a "slab fracture" where a flat, wide piece of the tooth breaks off. Dogs can do this by biting onto something hard, like a bone. This can expose the inside of the tooth to infection, and also be very uncomfortable. I would definitely have a veterinarian take a look at the tooth, to see if it should be extracted under anesthesia as this is the best way to treat a tooth like this. By removing the tooth, one removes the source, or potential source, of pain and discomfort. The veterinarian can also clean the rest of the teeth too, which would be great for Mars' overall health. Best of luck!

It appears to be some moderate gingivitis and tartar. The tooth underneath the red area may be affected, and may not. It would take an xray of that area to know for sure. I recommend getting her examined by your veterinarian and planning a dental cleaning and oral x-rays.