Animal Hospital of Unionville, a veterinary clinic on the north side of Hwy 7, serving all pets in Markham, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Stouffville, and North York since 1966. We are your family vets for dogs, cats, pocket pets (rabbits, chinchillas, gerbils, mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, skinny pigs, etc.), ferrets, and birds (budgies, cockatiel, parrots, amazon, cockatoo, love birds, conures, African greys, finches, canaries, etc.).
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In cases where the tooth is actually broken, or the wear occurs too fast or continues too far down to the gum line, the root canal is exposed and the tooth will become infected. Teeth with exposed root canals will generally have a dark brown to black center, as opposed to the light tan or medium brown color of reparative dentin, and which will allow an instrument into the canal. Teeth with direct root canal exposure are infected and require either root canal therapy or extraction.
[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” lifelearn_column_hover_style=”0″ lifelearn_column_sticky=””][vc_column_text]Some tooth wear is expected, but in some situations the wear can be extreme, resulting in an abnormal loss of the top layer of the teeth. This is called attrition. Excessive wear of pet teeth can actually cause problems, and there are many reasons this can occur in dogs and cats. Some of the most common causes of worn pet teeth are chewing on tennis balls and other toys as well as itching/chewing as a result of skin allergies.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” lifelearn_column_hover_style=”0″ lifelearn_column_sticky=””][_with_animation _url=”1771″ alignment=”center” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%” lifelearn_single__hover_style=”0″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”2/3″ tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” lifelearn_column_hover_style=”0″ lifelearn_column_sticky=””][vc_column_text]Both hair and (tennis) balls are very abrasive and can cause severe wearing of the incisor and canine teeth (and occasionally the premolars too). You can think of hair and tennis balls as a Brillo pad. Tooth wear can progress all the way to the gum line, and occasionally even below that.
Diagnosis of Worn Teeth in Dogs
The most important part of diagnosing attrition is to determine if the pulp cavity has been exposed. To do this, a dental explorer is used. If a defect in the central brown area is detected, the pulp has been exposed. In normal tooth wear, the dentin is strong and smooth. It covers the top of the tooth and the dental explorer cannot enter the tooth.
Overview Dogs are tough on their teeth. They spend their entire lives chewing on things—things we want them to chew on and things we don’t. Because of this, your pet’s teeth could start to show wear and tear as he ages. Some tooth wear is expected, but in some situations the wear can be extreme, resulting in an abnormal loss of the top layer of the teeth. This is called attrition. For dogs, the most common teeth to be affected by attrition are the incisors.
For more information, talk with your veterinarian—your key resource for information about the health and well-being of your best friend.
If you have any questions or concerns, you should always visit or call your veterinarian – they are your best resource to ensure the health and well-being of your pets.
Symptoms If your pet suffers from severely worn teeth, you most likely will notice the wear and tear when he “smiles,” exposing his teeth. Additionally, sometimes pain is associated with the worn tooth. Diagnosis/Treatment While a worn-down tooth may not pose serious health problems for your dog, other more dangerous oral conditions could exist. Routine visits to your veterinarian are very important, and an oral exam can identify issues such as broken teeth, oral tumors, periodontal disease, stomatitis, and other problems that pose a much more serious health risk. In fact, approximately 80% of our canine friends suffer from periodontal issues by age 5!1 Prevention Unfortunately, there is no prevention for attrition. Routine oral exams will help your veterinarian monitor your pet’s teeth and keep an eye out for other more serious oral problems. To learn more about your dog’s oral health, watch the video Cleaner Teeth, Healthier Dog.
As a tooth wears down, its pulp (or root) can become exposed. The dog’s body prevents this by covering the root with a protective layer called dentin, which appears as a dark spot in the middle of the tooth.
Tennis Ball Damaged German Shepherds Teeth
Your dog’s teeth, it’s his life source and a symbol of good health. Did you know that a lot of owners unknowingly allow their dogs to engage in behaviors that could prove detrimental to canine dental health by causing teeth wear? Here’s a list of behaviors that you should limit.
I’m not saying that should immediately strip your dog from all of his tennis ball and hard toy glory but you should limit his time with these items. Remember the classic saying, “Everything in moderation!” Make sure that your dog is not constantly partaking in these behaviors and you will be one step closer to maintaining that healthy snarl :).
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