Why are my rescue dog's teeth worn down to stubs? What's the cause?

Hello. The teeth are quite worn down, but without a thorough oral exam, it is difficult to evaluate exactly what is going on. I can tell you that some dogs, out of anxiety, boredom, even an obsessive compulsive condition, will chew on rocks or chain link fencing & can wear down & chip away at the teeth resulting in this. Perhaps being in a forever stable home is what this poor pup needs. Thank you so much for considering adoption & contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hi there and thank you for your post! From the pictures you provided, there is definitely some severe attrition (dental wearing) occurring throughout Judge's mouth. I see many dogs with worn teeth and most of the time, there are no issues with the worn teeth other than the fact that they typically accumulate tartar faster than non-worn teeth (this is because the enamel has been worn off). The only concern I would have would be that I can see the small dot in the center of the tooth. This structure is known as the pulp chamber, which houses the nerve and blood supply to the tooth. If this is exposed, the current recommendation is to either have a root canal performed or have the tooth removed. It does appear that Judge has tartar on his teeth. I would recommend a dental cleaning under anesthesia and have the teeth checked for any signs of pulp exposure. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns. I am also available by phone or text based consultation if needed. If Judge chews on hard bones or toys, I would stop this so that the wearing does not worsen.

Poor Trey! I would recommend having the worn teeth checked by a veterinarian - he/she should be able to tell you if they need to be extracted (i.e., if the pulp cavity is exposed, etc.), or if the teeth are okay to be left alone. There isn't really anything you can do about them at home, one way or the other.

Simba will likely need some of those teeth extracted. Have the teeth x-rayed every year to check for abscesses under the gun line. Unfortunately it is impossible to tell if these teeth have been filed or worn down naturally. Certainly pets who aggressively chew, chew on metal or chew on rocks are more likely to wear down their teeth like this. When he is sedated and the teeth can all be palpated, the veterinarian may get a better idea. The most important thing is to take care of any existing dental disease and stay on top of the situation for the rest of his life. Congratulations on your new pup.

There are two reasons why the incisors (front teeth) of your dog could be worn down: 1) he could have the habit of picking up stones and other hard things, which wears teeth down, or he could be an older dog. The most reliable way to find out Marty's age is to take him to a vet for an estimate, as the vet can look at his condition , bones and muscles and general look to give you an idea of his age.

The missing teeth may indicate old age or could indicate severe dental disease that is common in smaller breed dogs. I would recommend to take him to your local veterinarians office to have him scanned for a microchip just in case he is lost. It probably would not be a bad idea to have him checked out as well and to get an estimate of his age. Offer a mixture of dry and canned food as well as pick up some dewormer from the veterinarians office. Best of luck with your rescue!

She definitely has some wear on those teeth - often that particular pattern is caused by chewing tennis balls a lot or being really itchy and chewing at the skin a lot. The only way to know if the teeth are healthy is a dental x-ray and exam under anesthesia, so I can't say for sure if it's an issue or not. With a dental x-ray, her vet can look at the tooth roots and also make sure the gingiva is healthy. This is definitely not an emergency, but I would recommend bringing it up at her next appointment.