We got Harry the lurcher from the Dogs Trust just over a year ago and his teeth were in terrible condition then; none missing but all of them ground down to stubs.  They were scaled and polished by DT vet and we're told none needed extracting but I'm wondering if anyone knows why they'd be ground down in the frst place.  Is this likely to be someting he's done himself (by chewing?) or would previous owners have done it?

He came from Ireland and had clearly been a working dog over there; half his nose is missing and he has a face full of scars.  We estimate he's about 8 years old.  Any thoughts?

does your dog pick up stones? this would be sure to wear them down. Apart from that I cant be of much help I am afraid. maybe other posters would have some ideas.

He doesn't now but I suppose he could have in his previous life; that's something I hadn't considered, thank you.  Having said that, I think he'd need to have been chewing bricks or boulders to do the damage he's done!  But it could certainly be cumulative damage, that's for sure.

This is one area where your specialist Lurcher forum might be better able to help you.  It could also be worth talking to other owners of irish rescues - to see if they've experienced anything similar.  My only thought is that it could have been a result of incessant chewing (boredom) but wouldn't know enough about his living conditions to tell you if that is even likely. 

Was your vet worried for his health?  Does it affect his ability to eat?  Misaligned teeth or jaw can cause unusual wear but yours sounds more severe.  What was your vets best guess?   

Sounds like my Old Emma, she had all her own teeth, but they were very badly ground down.. she was a boulder carrier.. the larger the better.. over the years, these stones and boulders simply ground slowly away at the enamel until very little was left.. As she grew older, the stone carrying grew less.  I am inclined to think your boy has been a stone carrier.

Just a guess here but I would imagine an Irish working dog may possibly have been chained up in a barn or outdoors perhaps.  He may have chewed the chain.  I can't think why an owner would deliberately grind down teeth unless it was to stop him mangling his catch??

Could be something as simple as carrying things around. My dog is also 8 and his teeth are very worn and I panicked initially........the vet wasn't concerned at all - he loves catching tennis balls etc (dog not vet !) and walks around the house carrying toys all the time so that's all that caused it !.

Tennis balls are abrassive and I believe are one of the worst things to damage dogs teeth!

Yes they are, and it didn't take long !.

Have to admit I was initially wondering about the 'damage to catch' aspect but there's probably a lot of truth in the chewing a chain (or something) through boredom.  Thanks for all the suggestions folks!  It's something I'll be keeping an eye on as he gets older; regular check ups at the vet, me thinks!

It is always possible that he had a diet rich in bones as a youngster and possibly did the damage then.
Aileen

> Tennis balls are abrassive and I believe are one of the worst things to damage dogs teeth! <IMG class=qButton title="Quote selected text" alt="Quote selected text" src="/images/mi_quote.gif" width=20 height=10>

Well i didn't know that.  You learn something every day.

Could he have been a fighting dog, with you saying he has half his missing.  someone who i know had a rescued fighting dog who was the gentalist thing going.  So its not always apparrent.