I just noticed one of lennys front teeth is broken! Not one of the middle two, but one just to the side of the middle two. I just brushed his teeth a few weeks ago and he had them all then! He doesn't seem to be in pain or anything… there is still some of the tooth left, but its definitely broken. 
Is this normal? Does this mean his showing days are over? Do I need to bring him to the vet?
Poor little lenny - I have no idea when this could have happened.
Showing days are NOT over… there is no DQ for missing teeth...ggg...
However a trip to the VET is necessary IMO... because the root might be exposed and while no pain now, could be soon.
Even if they extract it, you can still show him... and when on the table for exam, you just tell the judge (if they even notice) that he broke off the tooth
Yeah, I've decided to take him to the vet. I'm not sure if I should take him to a dental specialist first, or go to a regular clinic first… more than half the tooth is broken off so I'm pretty sure its not something they can just file down... I don't know if i should have it pulled or have it fixed... i'm sure its going to be expensive... here's a picture of it.
Can anyone recommend a good vet in the White Plains area of NY? We have not been to a vet yet since moving here...
I'm not as concerned about his showing days as I am about him having full use of his mouth...
I believe most vets do dental work now.
Mine does.
Call and ask.
Please let us know what happens.
Oh poor Lenny and you too, Michelle. You might get a good vet referral from a BRAT coordinator in your area - or even a breeder iif there is one in your area. I'm glad Lenny doesn't seem to be in pain.
So I just made an appointment for Lenny today.. I got a referral from a woman that I interviewed to be a pet sitter…
Does anyone out there have advice about just removing the tooth versus having it fixed? The vet I just called said he would do just fine with out it... an I know it must be cheaper than having it fixed... but I want to make sure I do the right thing for him. And I'm just sick at the thought of having him put under anesthesia...
They said that if i have it extracted, I would normally have him dropped off in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon... can I not stay for the surgery? I'll have to ask this afternoon...
Look at his tooth and see if you can tell if the tooth is broken to the point where the nerve canal of the tooth is exposed. If it looks like there's a hole there, the nerve of the tooth may be exposed. If it looks like it's still solid tooth structure, the vet may be able to just bond some composite resin onto the tooth surface to restore the tooth's shape.
jmo - It is tiny tooth - not the big canine next to it. I would be more concerned removing a large tooth because excessive tooth shifting could cause bite problems. That that's not the case here with Lenny. I hope someone else gives you their experience.
Yeah, if I looked at the broken edge of the tooth I can see a darker colored dot. It's not black, but definitely darker.
Jill, you're right, its just a little tooth and supposedly they don't use that particular tooth for much more than grooming… I'm sure it bothers me more than it will bother him. I'm most worried about having to have him put under anesthesia...
IMO I would not do the expense of fixing.. I know many people that have had root canals and caps put on their Basenjis, only to have it break within 6 months. If you have the tooth removed it will be NO problem for him ever.. IMO… My Kristii lost the same tooth at 5 yrs old... she is now 13.. never a problem.. (I had it extracted)
They said that if i have it extracted, I would normally have him dropped off in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon… can I not stay for the surgery? I'll have to ask this afternoon...
Vets in the states book "x" amount of surgeries a day and then they have them all come in at the same time and just work on them as they finish the next.
Here in Germany, you have your appointment time and then you can pick them up after the surgery. My boxer has had two surgeries and the cat had her teeth cleaned, after both I could have waited the hour it took for the teeth and Reggie's simple surgery and then taken them home. BUt with this I really think people in the states would REALLY freak out. I say this because they are pretty out of it when you pick them up. They are only just barley awake
So I just made an appointment for Lenny today.. I got a referral from a woman that I interviewed to be a pet sitter…
Does anyone out there have advice about just removing the tooth versus having it fixed? The vet I just called said he would do just fine with out it... an I know it must be cheaper than having it fixed... but I want to make sure I do the right thing for him. And I'm just sick at the thought of having him put under anesthesia...
They said that if i have it extracted, I would normally have him dropped off in the morning and pick him up in the afternoon... can I not stay for the surgery? I'll have to ask this afternoon...
Why would you stay for the surgery? I drop mine off and then pick them up as soon as they are done?
I'd stay cause I'd be worried. If one of my family members was getting surgery, I'd go with them and wait, so i just figured I'd do it for Lenny also…
They usually have the dogs brought in for surgery in the morning. The vets usually have a time set aside for the surgeries. It could be between 11 and 1pm Then they are taken to a crate for recovery - to come out of anesthesia. You'd be there all day - unless of course they tell you what time Lenny's surgery would be, if they know. It is a Mom's God given right to worry though. I called the vet's office 3-4 times to see how Duke was doing when he was neutered.
Exactly.. that is what I do, just call and be a pest!!! You would be better off just dropping him off and coming back… really!!!
So I just got back from the vet. He checked out Lenny's tooth, poked it with a little wooden stick and said that it does not seem to be bothering him. He said if it were bothering him that Lenny would have shaken his head away when he poked it and that he would be chattering his teeth or acting strangely while/after eating. I asked about the little dark dot and asked if we should do an xray to make sure it is not cracked lengthwise and he said it was not necessary. He said I could keep checking if it is bothering him by poking it with something, or watching his gums to see if they get tender and swollen.
This is the first time I've been to this vet, so I dont know if I should believe him or get another opinion.
This morning I fed him soft food… Il'l try the hard stuff and see if he seems bothered.
So I just got back from the vet. He checked out Lenny's tooth, poked it with a little wooden stick and said that it does not seem to be bothering him. He said if it were bothering him that Lenny would have shaken his head away when he poked it and that he would be chattering his teeth or acting strangely while/after eating. I asked about the little dark dot and asked if we should do an xray to make sure it is not cracked lengthwise and he said it was not necessary. He said I could keep checking if it is bothering him by poking it with something, or watching his gums to see if they get tender and swollen.
This is the first time I've been to this vet, so I dont know if I should believe him or get another opinion.
This morning I fed him soft food… Il'l try the hard stuff and see if he seems bothered.
I would just keep an eye on it…. sounds like the right thing to me... you will know if it starts to bother him, especially when you brush his teeth, he will tell you....
I wonder if the vet could put a sealer on the tooth. It might protect it from decay since the tooth broke thru the enamel. They put that on my son's four permanent molars to prevent cavities.
I definitely would NOT repair it. I would only have it extracted if it bothered him. Querk has worn down all of his incisors to the gum line. I checked with several vets, and everyone agreed that those little incisors are not likely to cause a problem. The roots don't go very deep, and they tend to seal themselves off after damage. He has never acted like they give him any pain.
If you choose to have it removed, you may want to get a note from your vet that it is due to an accident. Some judges may give you some grief about a missing tooth. It is a fault in any breed (not a disqualification in ours)…but some judges don't KNOW that, and will take it more seriously. I might just say 'he broke a tooth a while back' as the judge is looking at the teeth.
So I've been monitoring Lenny's broken tooth for the last couple weeks and now it looks like his gums are getting red, and the little faint brown dot in the middle of his tooth is now black AND the tooth is cracked again. Its cracked at about a 45 degree angle and i can move the piece with my finger.:(
So I called the vet back and tried to schedule an appointment to have it pulled. When i went the first time, the doc said it would be under $100 to have it pulled (including anesthesia). This time, i called, the doc i talked to on my first visit is not in today, and the vet tech i talked to said it would be more like $250-300 to have it pulled… which includes anesthesia, pre surgery blood work (is this needed if i get his previous blood work sent over from my other vet, done in august?) antibiotics, induction, tooth pull)...
i'm just concerned cause there's a big difference between $100 and $250-300... just want to make sure it's in the ball park of "normal"...
