Cracked canine

[blarkey]

anyone have the canine crack in two its the very tip and a sliver down the side. it looks like a nerve showing but dosn't seem to keep her from chewing do you get it pulled or can they cap it somehow?

[CrazyLabs]

My lab had the same thing happen about 6 months ago. We debated on having it pulled, but ended up deciding to just watch it for a while. Sounds like the same type of break as yours. I check his teeth and gums once a week for any discoloration and/or swelling. I haven't noticed anything out of the ordinary (except a busted fang of course). He still eats food the same, plays tug-o-war with his brother, and chews on all of his toys. I haven't noticed a difference in him at all. I can even touch the exposed part and he doesn't flinch. The minute there is any pain or swelling, however, off to the dentist.

[blarkey]

the shard of tooth is still hanging there I'm debating yanking it out

[leechlake]

my now deceased lab had his canine broken by a kid swinging a baseball bat years ago. The dog went after the ball bat hit the dog and it broke a canine.

I took the dog to the vet and here is what they said.

1. you can do nothing but it's hard to say if it hurts the dog or not, dogs can have a high threshould of pain.

2. root canal and then just leave the tooth in.

3. root canal and cap it

I ended up doing the root canal and leaving it and it worked out fine for him for the next ten years. The one thing I remember the vet saying is that the canine is especially important for a retriver in holding birds bumpers etc so you need to see how much "grasping" tooth is remaining.

I do remember that the dog root canal cost more than mine a few months later but I thought at the time that it was irresponsible of me if the nerve was exposed and he was hurting big time. Good luck.

[blarkey]

well I wimped out and took her in and glad I did the tooth root was already black and very panful the Vet said it didnt look bad on the outside if the theres a black dot on the tip of the tooth its the nerve and thats bad need to be polled witch is cheeper sooner then later.

[bobbymalone]

I wouldn't call taking care of your dog properly wimping out. You did the right thing.