Mo is entered into her (and my) first show in a couple of weeks, the day she hits 6 months. She currently has a retained upper canine tooth that is showing no sign of budging. Would I be best to get it removed before the show (is she likely to be penalised because of it?) or just leave it and hope it comes out of it's own accord in time?

Would speak to your vet about it, can't say if it would be a problem in the show ring but it is important it is not a problem to her health.

In all likelihood the vet will flick it out but it is possible it will need to be removed surgically - only the vet will be able to say if they think it will come out naturally or not but in the mean time try giving her a marrow bone.

We've got a vet visit next week, so I'll ask her then!

Do you feed raw bones and raw chicken wings?   For me they have shifted all canines that I thought were set firm.

I personally don't like feeding chicken wings but the dogs do get lamb ribs a couple of times a week. Having said that Mo has only been getting chopped up bones, so maybe I should take the plunge and give her a big chunk!

I would rather try that than an invasive procedure. :)

Hold one end while she chews on the other until you feel happy that she's learned to chew.  I do the same with chicken wings until the youngsters get the hang of chewing rather than inhaling! :)

Strange I'm happier with chicken wings as they're only cartledge and not as hard as bigger raw bones.  Even my daughter who doesn't feed raw will feed raw wings as a tooth cleaning tool. :)

Think perhaps it is because most of the problems encountered with raw bones seem to be chicken bones (no doubt because that is what most people feed) would think that if most people feed lamb ribs then it would be them that vets warned against.

It's really because a number of my dogs do just swallow wings whole (even after the initial holding) and even when they've had carcasses which slow them down a bit I've seen shards of bone in their poo. I've never had that problem with the lamb ribs and being that much larger and more substantial they have to chew rather than just swallow.

Swallowed whole there would not be a problem, think it is if a sharp piece of bone penetrates the tissue around the digestive tract it causes other things to get hooked up including raw meat & skin, no real problem I suppose if it is in the stomach but it can be if it is higher in the system, bone fragments can also be a problem if they penetrate the wall of the intestines.

Chewy treats, a game of tuggy if they're into that, and gentle wiggling if she doesn't mind it. Don't worry too much if she's still got it at 6 months, a couple of mine have had retained canines until 7 or 8 months, and they've usually gone just as I'm starting to give up and think that this time we'll have to go the vet route. :-)

I had exactly the same thing at six months, upper canine solid as a rock, I tried wiggling it but it wasn't moving at all ! however as I didn't want to put a 6 months puppy under aneasthetic I left it . . . .  at some point a few weeks later it must have decided to come out as it's not there now :-) The vets advice was as it is a canine and not displacing any other teeth, there was no hurry to remove it! Good advice IMO

V

The vets advice was as it is a canine and not displacing any other teeth, there was no hurry to remove it! Good advice IMO

True not a problem if it is not pushing the second tooth out of line, if it is it is best removed as the canine grows quite large and can push into other parts of the mouth.

>True not a problem if it is not pushing the second tooth out of line, if it is it is best removed as the canine grows quite large and can push into other parts of the mouth.

I have had this problem a couple of times with pups that had just had their 6 month health checks.  I opted to have a tooth removed, rather than have it push the permanent tooth out of line.

My decision was made after admiring an absolutely stunning Toy Poodle, from extremely good stock.  The owner asked her vet about a retained tooth, and he said to leave it.  She thought he knew best, so left it.  It is a crying shame.  This poor dog has a tooth totally distorted, and pushing his lip up.

That is the sort of thing I was thinking about Jean SW not only can it cause pain and damage to the mouth but at times food lodges between the two and causes an abscess in the jaw.

It is more common in toy dogs than larger ones I have seen particularly bad damage in a Yorkshire terrier.

When giving raw meaty bones I've always followed the rule of giving one LARGER than the dog's head, that way they can't really bite off chunks and they get a really good tooth workout :)  I've not known a tooth be retained after a few good workouts on a BIGGUN!

I do keep an eye though as the really BIG knuckle bones often have gristle attached and occasionally this can come away - wouldn't want them to choke ;)

Agree with Dill I have always found that a large marrow bone will deal with the removal of a reluctant milk tooth.

One of my bitches kept her baby canine teeth till she was over 2yrs old, the vet wasn't concerned they were not pushing any others out of line so it was decided if she needed surgery we could get them removed then, suddenly one day they were gone,I had to double check because I was so used to seeing them,6 months later the tiny gap had closed over,couldn't remember giving her anything different to chew on but she did play some serious tug games with the others but had done since I got her at 6 months old.

Chewing on a black Kong got rid of my Mum's dachsie Penny's one remaining canine just before she was spayed at 17 months old,there was blood every where and me trying to figure out which bit of her was bleeding.

Just thought I'd let you know Mo has lost the retained tooth (yippee!!!), so I'm a very happy bunny!

Yesterday when I checked it, it was still stuck solid, but on inspection this evening it had gone, and I found it in the middle of the living room. The lamb ribs this morning must have done the job!

Hooray! And I'm a bit jealous - 4 dogs now and I've never managed to find or keep a single baby tooth! :-)

I've got a draw full of little pots containing baby teeth - 7 pots so far......

I managed to prize a few out (I did at least wait until they were pretty wobbly) - I had visions of a lovely necklace sort of like the tribal leader in King Kong.  Alas - the small ones are the size of a grain or rice & the large ones won't impress any one . . .