Thursday, April 16, 2009

Why would a two-year-old dog be losing teeth?

I have an almost two-year-old dog who has lost two adult teeth within the past year. Neither of these teeth had much root at all when I found them lying around. Do dog teeth not have much root to begin with?





His teeth are white -- there%26#039;s no yellow or brown tartar buildup -- nor does he have bad breath or inflamed gums. He had no sensitivity when I pressed around his gums. He has no problem with eating. He%26#039;s regularly given bones, but they%26#039;re not nearly hard enough to yank a tooth out. So my main question is: what could be causing an adult dog to be losing teeth?

Why would a two-year-old dog be losing teeth?
Yes, dog%26#039;s teeth have a LOT of root on them - the canine teeth in particular are like icebergs - most of them are under the surface!





I suppose there%26#039;s a tiny possibility that your dog has only just lost the last of his baby teeth. These do not have roots on them. Rare at 2 years of age, but not impossible. However, it%26#039;s more likely that he does have dental disease - if there was no root on these teeth and you%26#039;re sure they were adult teeth, then that%26#039;s a problem. Roots only disappear when they%26#039;ve rotted away. It is possible for this to happen under the surface without any evidence being visible in the mouth.





I advise you have the dog%26#039;s mouth checked. A vet can tell you quite easily what%26#039;s going on here.





Chalice
Reply:my cat lost her teeth when she was a kitten, just like we loose our teeth to have %26quot;grown-up%26quot; teeth come in....maybe that%26#039;s what it is....?
Reply:Other than poor oral hygiene (which you say is not the case), I would have to guess poor genetics. Check with your vet. At this rate you may have a toothless dog before he%26#039;s 5.
Reply:i think the dog should go to the vet or denitst ..lol..just kindin%26#039;....BYE
Reply:They%26#039;re probably still milk teeth if they have no root, theres nothing to be worried about. Although if you are take him to the vet to put your mind at rest.
Reply:Is it a small breed dog? A lot of small breeds have retained baby teeth that don%26#039;t fall out properly. Playing with toys can sometimes knock these teeth out. It your dog has retained baby teeth you should get your vet to remove them because they can trap bacteria and food and lead to periodontal disease.





It%26#039;s not uncommon for dogs to break teeth off on bones. Dog%26#039;s teeth do have roots. If the teeth did break, then it is likely the pulp canal (sensitive root) will be come inflammed if not infected. Keep an eye on your dog for excessive salivation, loss of appetite, bad breath, or pain or swelling in the mouth. Those are signs your pet should be evaluated.
Reply:Maybe it is an indication of something else going on internally - im not a vet so i cant tell you.





If they do some blood work to see if there is anything abnormal it will shed light. Also they are like people, it could be a calcuim or vitamin deficiency. Try changing up his food to something more healthy without fillers.





If all fails, I would make him go see the vet. Maybe they have a doggie vitamin? A treat with calcuim?
Reply:Strange one. Some breeds have poor dentition. I wonder what size the missing teeth were. Could they be late baby teeth? I would get a dental check done by the vet, just to be sure. Like us, sometimes tooth decay can sneak up on you!
Reply:tennismvp1994: god..where did u come up with your answer????? of course %26quot;kittens%26quot; loose milk teeths just like you did when you were a little kid. this dog is 2 years old which mean hes well into his late human teens...





Take him to the vet. that doesnt sound %26quot;normal%26quot; to me... id be pretty scared actually....



family nanny

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