Tojo's missing a tooth...???

HeidiHeidi
edited December 2008 in Food, Nutrition, & Health
I found a canine tooth on the ground, completely whole, root and all. I checked all the dogs' mouths, and it's Tojo's left, top canine tooth. I have NO idea how this happened. Tojo's mouth looks perfectly healthy, his gums and teeth are clean, he doesn't have a whiff "doggy" breath... The spot where the tooth was doesn't even look sore. Last time I looked at his teeth, they looked fine.

So what in the world happened to Tojo's tooth?! I guess I'll call the vet tomorrow... I don't know what there is to do, though, because it doesn't seem like there's anything wrong with his mouth.

Could it just be that he chewed on something or picked something up that was too hard or heavy? The only thing I can think of is that Tojo did find an old sheep bone the other day (there are sheep bones here and there on the property), so maybe he chomped it? I mean, old dried-up bones are pretty hard...

Anyway, I'm confused.

Comments

  • dlrobertsdlroberts
    edited November -1
    Yuck. Poor guy. Unfortunately I have no wisdom to offer. Let us know what the vet says.
  • brandon_wbrandon_w
    edited November -1
    Very bizarre. You would think there would have been some Shiba screaming and bleeding. Then again, Shibas tend to be stoic when they are in real pain. I would keep an eye on the open hole where his tooth used to be. Watch for food filling it up, or blood, or infection. Other than that, I don't think there is much you can do, Tojo is just going to have a goofy grin.
  • HeidiHeidi
    edited November -1
    I would've thought a scream and blood, too, but I don't recall anything like that happening! This is a total mystery... It's not like I let him chew on that bone, either. Maybe he tried to pick up a rock?

    Either way, he doesn't seem to mind it and he's eating and playing like normal, so I guess he'll just be my toothless Tojo from now on. I will definitely be checking his mouth regularly until it heals.
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    The canine roots are like an inch long or longer in a dog this size. I would be wondering if the tooth didn't break off leaving part of a retained root. Maybe an xray? How old is Tojo? Maybe he has a little abcess that caused the tooth to become diseased and fall out? If not, he sure must have chomped something hard. The dogs always clack their teeth together when they play and I am always afraid I will find broken teeth on the ground...
  • MommyofNikoMommyofNiko
    edited November -1
    Tojo is Niko's toothless buddy now! Niko had an adult tooth "accidentally" pulled during her spay.
    I will be very interested to see what the very says.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    yikes! sheep bones can be considered wreck bones for jaws as small as shibas, that would do it - a beef bone caused Tsuki's entire top jaw to migrate... rocks too, we had a foster border that would chew rocks, her front teeth looked awful. And their playing with the teeth clanking, Tsuki's got a chipped canine from her and Kitsune 'bucking' teeth.

    Hazardous dogs! Hope its nothing serious, and if he's eating normal and there is no redness or smell, I'd still have the vet check it out if you can.
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Jen-really? From a beef bone? Why do they bite that hard? I really hate it when they "buck" teeth. I'm gonna start putting plastic fishbowls on their heads (don't worry, I will poke some airholes in them first).
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    yeah from a raw marrow/soup bone. Tsuki is not a dedicated chewer on bones, so I just usually monitor (for snarks) but not extremely close when we got them the bones. We got them from a butcher who left a lot of tendon/tissue/marrow on the bones for max dental benefits. After she broke one bone in two, bled for a bit and we noticed her teeth migrating, we stopped rec/wreck bones altogether and found out her genetic jaw issues. They only get raw bones they can completely chew and digest now.. ugh.
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited December 2008
    they are called rec bones because they are recreational but also because they have a serious potential to wreck dog teeth if not monitored, and I did monitor, but not well enough I guess. Another lesson learned the hard way!
  • HeidiHeidi
    edited November -1
    Here's the tooth...
    Photobucket

    ...calling the vet now...
  • brandon_wbrandon_w
    edited November -1
    Wow. That's a whole tooth. It really looks to be in good shape, other than the fact that it's no longer in Tojo's head.
  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    Wow, that is the craziest thing I have ever seen...a whole tooth just popped out!
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Ouch-that sucks. I saw some pretty nasty carnassial removals in huskies and chessies from biting down wrong on rec bones like raw beef knuckles. Parts of their jaws were permanently damaged.
  • LeonbergerLeonberger
    edited November -1
    That's pretty weird that it just came out like that.
  • sunyatasunyata
    edited November -1
    That is very odd that it came out root and all. I would think if it were from some sort of bite trauma, that there would be a break or chip somewhere.

    Give us an update from the vet when you get a chance!
  • okironokiron
    edited November -1
    Damn tooth fairy is hurting in this economy too. She has to steal doggie teeth!
  • CrimsonO2CrimsonO2
    edited November -1
    Damn...now you make me wonder whether the deer antler bone I've given Ichi is going to do more harm to him than good.

    Jesse
  • tsukitsunetsukitsune
    edited November -1
    everything has an inherent risk, but we've never had a problem with antlers. Their composition and breakdown is different than that of a dense wreck bone, so maybe thats why. Our pups seem to get them really gummy before trying to eat parts, so that helps protect them from biting clear through it I think.
  • HeidiHeidi
    edited November -1
    Rina - lol.

    The vet said that since the whole tooth is out, nothing's infected or sore, and he's eating and drinking like normal, and he's not old (he's 3), there's nothing they can do at the vet and I should just watch his mouth for a while. They said that it could've been rough play, biting something, knocking something... any number of things. Just a weird accident, I guess.

    Well, Toothless Jo, you've left us with an unsolved mystery.
  • MommyofNikoMommyofNiko
    edited November -1
    Did you find out about how much to replace it with a gold tooth?
  • DaddyofNikoDaddyofNiko
    edited November -1
    Sorry I posted under Rachael
  • KFontaine04KFontaine04
    edited November -1
    HA HA Rachael. A gold tooth with some diamond bling! Tojo would be big pimpin'!
  • HeidiHeidi
    edited December 2008
    That would be a perfect look for him. I could get him a purple feather hat and clip all his nails except one. lol

    Someone on another board I go to posted this picture for me:

    image

    I can't imagine any dog keeping those on!
  • lindsaytlindsayt
    edited November -1
    Is that a dog retainer?
Sign In or Register to comment.

© Vanilla Keystone Theme 2024