Loose teeth can be very difficult to deal with. Bite into something with a loose tooth and you might tear up from the pain. Even sleeping can be troublesome because you have to figure out which position doesn’t affect your problematic tooth.
Now, imagine what dealing with a loose tooth is like for your dog. Eating is now causing them pain and they may not fully understand why. The pain may also linger and that can prevent your dog from resting properly.
Something needs to be done about your dog’s loose tooth. Is pulling the tooth something you should consider doing? Discover the answer to that question by reading on.
Should I Pull My Dog’s Loose Tooth?
After seeing your dog acting weird, you will likely go to check on them. Upon doing so, you may notice that they have a loose tooth.
So, should you try pulling out that tooth yourself? No, there is never a time when you should consider pulling your dog’s tooth out.
Pulling out the tooth yourself is a bad idea for two main reasons.
First off, you cannot predict how your dog will react if they’re in pain. After experiencing a quick surge of pain because you tugged on their loose tooth, your dog may react by biting you. Even a dog that has not bitten anyone can react in that manner due to the pain.
Attempting to remove the tooth yourself is also not recommended because doing so could damage your dog’s mouth. You could end up exposing the root of the tooth. That exposed root could get infected and lead to health complications.
What about Puppies vs Adults?
Trying to pull out your dog’s tooth is dangerous no matter the age of your pet.
If you pull out a puppy’s loose tooth, you could deal lasting damage to their mouth. There’s no telling how their adult teeth will develop after the trauma you inflicted.
Adult dogs are more likely to react defensively if try to pull their aching tooth. You do not want to be anywhere near their mouth so don’t even try to remove their loose tooth.
Will My Dog’s Tooth Fall Out Naturally?
Whether or not your dog’s tooth will fall out on its own will depend on your pet’s age. Only puppies lose their teeth naturally. That’s because they are losing their baby teeth to make way for their permanent chompers.
Puppies will start losing their baby teeth when they turn four months old. That usually continues until they are six months old, but the process can take longer than that.
Do note that only baby teeth fall out naturally from a dog’s mouth. If we’re talking about adult teeth, you will need to take a more proactive role in what’s taking place. Failing to take action could lead to your dog experiencing pain and discomfort for an extended period of time.
What to Do if My Dog Has a Loose Tooth?
Taking immediate action is a must if your dog has a loose tooth. The kind of action I’m referring to here is scheduling an appointment with the veterinarian.
You don’t have to book an emergency appointment, but you should schedule one as soon as possible. Don’t wait for days before you and your pet head in for a consultation. This is not the type of issue that can get better by leaving it alone.
Find out what will happen during your dog’s visit to the veterinarian by checking out the details below.
The Veterinarian Performs an Initial Exam
After bringing your dog to the clinic, the veterinarian will take a closer look at the dangling tooth. They will conduct an exam to determine the condition of the tooth in question.
The information they glean from that examination will be crucial to your pet’s treatment. The results of the exam will let the veterinarian how they should proceed.
Your Dog’s Blood Is Tested
If the veterinarian concludes that extracting the loose tooth is necessary, they will soon ask you for permission to run a blood test on your dog. Don’t be confused by the request.
Since anesthetics are required for the procedure, the veterinarian first has to make sure that your dog is healthy enough to be put under. The blood test will confirm that.
Your Dog Is Anesthetized
The next part of the process involves anesthetizing your pet. The usage of anesthesia will allow the veterinarian to examine your pet’s mouth more carefully. It will also prevent potential complications during the procedure.
The Veterinarian Performs a Dental Exam
It is now time for the dental exam. Aside from looking inside your dog’s mouth, the veterinarian may also enlist the help of an X-ray machine. The X-ray machine will reveal any issues that could be hiding in your dog’s mouth.
The Veterinarian Cleans Your Dog’s Mouth
Cleaning your dog’s mouth is important.
Short-term, cleaning your dog’s mouth will make it easier for the veterinarian to extract the problematic tooth. Long-term, your dog will be more comfortable after plaque and tartar are removed from their teeth.
Different scalers and probes may be used during the cleaning process. A technician may also be tasked with performing those tasks, but the veterinarian will be there to supervise the whole thing.
The Loose Tooth Is Removed
The veterinarian can now remove the loose tooth. Removing the tooth can be done quickly if it is already loose.
The procedure may take longer if the dentist finds that your dog has several diseased teeth. Surgery may be necessary to remove all the diseased teeth in your dog’s mouth.
Your Dog’s Teeth Are Polished
Assuming that your dog’s tooth was removed with no issue, the veterinarian can now start polishing their teeth. Polishing is done not just to make your dog’s teeth look great. It’s also carried out to stop plaque from quickly accumulating on your pet’s teeth.
Your Dog’s Mouth Is Rinsed
Your dog’s mouth will be rinsed once their teeth are polished. In all likelihood, your dog will still be anesthetized at this point.
You Wait for Your Dog to Wake Up
The last step simply involves waiting for your dog to wake. The veterinarian will still be present to monitor your dog. They will continue to monitor until your dog has regained consciousness.
Hopefully, there are no complications and you will be able to go home after your pet wakes up.
What to Do after My Dog’s Tooth Falls Out?
An adult dog’s tooth falling out is a troubling sight. Still, it is not too late to take action if that happens. You can still help your pet.
What you want to do is hang on to the tooth. The veterinarian will want to see it. By examining the tooth that fell out, the veterinarian can determine if the root needs to be extracted as well.
In some cases, the tooth can still be returned to your dog’s mouth. Store the tooth in some milk to preserve and bring it with you when you see the veterinarian.
Do Loose Teeth Hurt Dogs?
Loose teeth can cause a great deal of pain and discomfort to dogs. They may still eat with loose teeth, but they will experience pain while doing so.
Your dog will likely show visible signs of discomfort if they have a loose tooth. There are other signs you can watch for to confirm that your pet has a loose tooth.
Those signs include bad breath, bleeding, chewing only on one side, excessive drooling, and swollen gums. Get in touch with your veterinarian as soon as you see those symptoms.