Broken tooth - apparently this is common!

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

Poor Rocky broke a tooth yesterday and needed to have it extracted. I could have opted for a root canal and a crown, but that procedure would set me back about $2K, so opted for the cheaper solution (which still cost over $500 due to the aneasthesia and morphine shots). The vet told me that dogs often break or fracture a tooth and that they do not necessarily show you they're in pain. Signs of pain include lack of appetite, weight loss, constant licking (which Rocky did), lethargy, and refusal to drink or eat.

 

Thought I would share this, since I would be devastated to learn my dog had been in pain for a while without me knowing. Vet said to check dog's teeth regularly. Here's what the tooth looked like; as you can tell, the pulp was exposed:

 

 

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Poor Rocky! I'm so sorry this happened. Thanks for posting this for the benefit of others. Hugs to you both.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Oh wow, that looks very painful. I think I will have to put my "head lights" on and go check Gracie Doodle's teeth. I have these lighsts you put on like a head band and that way you are hands free. I use them when I dremel her toe nails. Now when she sees me coming she turns the other way. I was painting the kitchen walls yesterday and had them on for the edging and she kept her distance from me. lol

[Laura & Chewie]

Oh no, poor Rocky...I hope it hasn't been like that for too long. Do you have any idea how it happened?

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

No... I'm guessing that a tennis ball hit him hard and that the tooth may have been fractured already. We will never know for sure. I just hope he wasn't in pain for a long time!!! At least the tooth was a minor one and he can live without it just fine. I only saw the broken tooth bc he gets glucosamine pills for his joints. If I hadn't had to cram a pill down his throat every day, I may not have noticed. So everyone, please go check your dog's teeth!!!

[Sally]

wowsah! That is nuts. I am so appreciative that you took the time to add the photo. Very helpful. Hope Rocky feels better now.

[Kathy Spyker]

It looks like that would of hurt. Thanks for the info. I hope Rocky is feeling better now that its out.

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

Thank you - and yes, he's back to his old happy self although he cannot understand why we won't throw him a tennis ball...

[Ann Kendig]

Hope Rocky feels better soon! Poor guy. That looks so painful!!!! Wow, $500.00 to extract a tooth, that's crazy. By the way, great close up picture. Sometimes it is difficult to get a good close up photo but this one shows good detail for all of us to know what to look for. I hope you've joined the photography group so you can teach us all about using our macro setting on our cameras! lol

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

in fairness to the vet, the $525 included a teeth cleaning - since Rocky was under anyway and had some plaque builtup, I thought we might as well have that done at the same time... so now he has perfect perly whites and a nice big gap where the broken tooth was. It was an upper tooth, so no one will ever notice :)

[Ann Kendig]

Not unless he smiles!! :))))

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

we will photoshop next year's Christmas cards ;)

[Ann Kendig]

Good Idea!