My 13-month-old dog has a retained baby tooth. Is removal necessary?

This can be a common issue in young dogs, especially of small breeds. If the canine tooth doesn't fall out by the time the adult tooth has grown in, we normally recommend removal of this tooth at the pet's spay or neuter. The tooth can be a site that easily gets infected or is easily broken, and this is the reason we recommend removal,though we do see dogs who live with the baby tooth and don't have problems with them. They are also an area where tartar quickly accumulates as they age.

It appears that Keke may have a retained deciduous (baby) tooth. This is common in smaller breeds. If the tooth does not fall out by 6 months of age, have her evaluated by your veterinarian. The baby tooth should be removed so that it doesn't push the adult tooth out of alignment. Since she is spayed already, she may to be anesthetized again.

If the deciduous (baby) teeth are still in after the adult teeth have fully erupted, then they will need to be extracted by your veterinarian. Left in, they can push the adult teeth out of alignment, catch food and debris and promote infection. The teeth can be extracted while Turbo is anesthetized if he is to be neutered soon. This is common in smaller breeds but eaisly remedied and should cause no further issues once the baby teeth are out.

You could seek referral to a dental specialist but I would not generally recommend removal at sch an early age, indeed the surgery required to remove these may further damage the developing adult teeth and create additional trouble. Rope chews and rubber teething rings may provide enough physical stimulation to jaw to encourage more normal allignment and many dogs manage perfectly well with a crooked smile as long as the teeth are not causing pain due to contact with the lips, tongue or nearby teeth. Continue to monitor for signs of discomfort which may indicate the need for intervention in the future. All adult teeth should be erupted by 9-12months and a complete dental assessment wold be recommended at this stage

If you are planning on having Samuel neutered your vet may recommend having any remaining baby teeth extracted at that time. If not, your vet will likely want to remove them at the time of Samuel’s first yearly dental cleaning, as retained baby teeth can lead to increased gum and dental disease. It is a good idea to start brushing his teeth daily with an enzymatic pet toothpaste to help prevent /reduce gum disease. Small breed or toy dogs are prone to retained teeth and dental disease and should be treated with daily tooth brushing at home and at least yearly dental cleanings at the vet to help prevent pain from dental disease.

What you are describing is actually retained baby teeth in the front and adult teeth that erupted behind these that did not succesffuly push out the baby teeth. Retained deciduous teeth aren't necessarily a serious matter initially, but over time they cause debris and foodstuffs to trap in between the overcrowded area and this causes advanced dental disease and bacteria problems later on for your pet. It is always advised and recommended to remove the retained baby teeth in the near future to avoid these complications, and this is often best done during another surgical procedure such as during a spay or neuter, because the retained baby teeth will require the pet to be under general anesthesia in order to be done safely and efficiently. In the meantime I would encourage you to brush your puppy's teeth daily to help remove foodstuffs from becoming entrapped.

It is not uncommon for smaller breeds to have retained deciduous (baby) teeth. Have Peanut examined by your veterinarian. If the teeth are not loose, they will need to be manually extracted. This can be done when she is under anesthesia for her spay. Left in, the baby teeth can cause adult teeth to become misaligned causing bite issues. As you're seeing, the space between can collect food which will promote bacterial growth, infection and bad breath.