I noticed tonight when my dog yawned that she appears to have broken one of her bottom teeth, an incisor (I think that is what the long ones are called).  she eats lots of bones and chews but isn't keen to have me poking about her mouth although the mouth thing isn't new.  It is black on the broken top surface but seems fine everywhere else.  Is this worth bothering the vet about?  Is she likely to be in any pain or is it likely to become painful?  I don't want to bother the vet if it is just normal wear and tear.  FWIW the other tooth at the other side is worn down so not pointed but nothing like as small as this one.

The long teeth are the canines (the incisors are the small ones at the front), and if they break it can be very painful. I'd certainly get the vet to look at it because infection could easily set in, and then you have big problems. There's no reason to think that dogs don't suffer the same amount of pain from damaged teeth that we do - they just hide it better.

Hi, Our male broke his canine tooth recently, and had to have it properly removed. It is definitely worth popping him to the vets.

As JG say's a trip to the vets is definitely the order of the day.

One of ours is in tomorrow for root canal work and a cap after breaking a canine yesterday, first thing the vet said was Antibiotics, the risk of infection and complications is very real.

Right then, off to the vets tomorrow.  she has just munched a big chew she took from the pup and didn't seem to favour the non-broken side but maybe that is more to do with her greed.  I will get her seen tomorrow and fingers xed it is superficial rather than anything serious.

My younger champion bitch had her upper large Carnasial tooth taken out as it had abscessed (she looked like a Hamster), there was just a chip on one of the points showing a black speck.

Root canal could have been done, but it would have been a major job with such a large tooth and no guarantee that some nerve may not have been left to cause discomfort, so I opted for the best option of having it out so that she would not suffer any pain in future.

I applied to the kennel Club (with supporting Vets letter) for permission to continue showing her.

> there was just a chip on one of the points showing a black speck.

that is what missys is like.  the poor wee lamb is only 5 and I am starting to get visions of her wearing falsers

We were given the option of removal, but because the tooth is a bottom canine, most of it is intact and a the risk of the dogs lower jaw breaking during removal we've opted of root canal and capping.

can your dog still eat bones and things with the tooth capped?

I'll ask the question when I pick her up later.

My boy has this as well. I thought he'd broken a bottom tooth and the middle appeared grey but it turned out to be wear and tear. Both his bottom 'pointy' teeth are flat on top although only one is grey inside. He's a dog that loves carrying things - always greets people with a toy or tennis ball. He also loves chewing bones and pigs ears !. The vet said it was nothing to worry about and that the nerves inside aren't like ours when exposed so he is in no discomfort.
Just to add - he was about three at the time, is now six and has had no problems.

Fingers crossed things are as simple for your dog.

> the poor wee lamb is only 5

Same age as my Lexi.  Never had a dog loose a tooth until her Mum, who had one split due to en epulis on the gum.

> My boy has this as well. I thought he'd broken a bottom tooth and the middle appeared grey but it turned out to be wear and tear. Both his bottom 'pointy' teeth are flat on top although only one is grey inside. He's a dog that loves carrying things - always greets people with a toy or tennis ball. He also loves chewing bones and pigs ears

That is what the vet said it was.  He said the grey on her tooth is nothing to worry about and there is no infection.  She is a bit snuffly just now and her glands are up so right on cue as the vet was rummaging in her mouth she breathed heavily through her nose and snottered all over my coat.  yuck! No dental treatment required but £50 lighter of pocket for a 2 week course of antibiotics

I asked about caps for dogs and he said they don't do that and as far as he was aware there are not many dentists in Scotland who do them. 

Glad it's nothing to worry about. Peace of mind for you as well.

Sorry about your coat :)