Sad day for me today...

[malluver1005]

Just took Aspen in to the vet today for his yearly general checkup and found out that he has a fracture with pulp exposure. It's his lower molar, on his right side. I've never given him any weight bearing bones or knuckle bones, so I'm puzzled as to what could have caused this?? Danemama08, do you still give Shiloh RMB's??

[jdatwood]

Damn, that really sucks

We do still give Shiloh RMBs. She gets everything the same as the rest of the girls. She just doesn't chew as much on the left side where the tooth was extracted

[malluver1005]

What on earth could have caused this though????

[jdatwood]

Hard to say really... we don't even know exactly what bone caused Shiloh's fracture.

Any chance he may have accidentally chewed on a rock or something? What's the hardest thing he normally gets?

[malluver1005]

He gets beef ribs and deer antlers. Don't know what's harder though...

ETA: He hasn't had deer antlers in a long time though so is there a chance that the beef ribs could have caused this?

[DaneMama]

It's impossible to say for sure what caused it. Beef ribs or antlers could have but who knows. He could have fractured it on another dogs head...happened to one of Bailey's teeth! I wouldn't worry too much about how it happened since you'll never really know and it's not the end of the world for him. It sucks yes, but not terrible. I'd just keep an eye on it because even with the pulp exposed there's not guarantee that it will get infected and need to be extracted.

[MollyWoppy]

Gosh, I almost had a heart attack when I read your title, so was really quite relieved to read it was 'just' a tooth. But, saying that, sorry to hear this happened, especially when you've always been so careful with what you give him. Sounds painful though, having pulp exposed. What does the vet reckon you should do?

[DaneMama]

Having the pulp exposed doesn't necessarily mean that it's even painful. If the vet is a good one he/she will say to keep an eye on it. If tartar starts to build up there you will know that the tooth is actually painful and should come out. If tartar doesn't build up you know that the tooth is ok. No reason to extract it if it doesn't need to come out right away. But it should definitely come out if it's painful or infected.

ETA: I found that Shiloh's tooth was broken because of all the tartar buildup. She stopped using that side of her mouth which caused buildup from it being painful. This is basically the only way to know if it's painful because most dogs are so stoic. They don't let pain slow them down!

[malluver1005]

Gosh, I almost had a heart attack when I read your title, so was really quite relieved to read it was 'just' a tooth. But, saying that, sorry to hear this happened, especially when you've always been so careful with what you give him. Sounds painful though, having pulp exposed. What does the vet reckon you should do?

Sorry I scared you! The doctor wants to put him on a course of antibiotics for 10 days, and then have the molar removed.

[malluver1005]

But it should definitely come out if it's painful or infected.

When I touch it, it seems like it hurts him. He pulls his head away...

ETA: Tartar never developed in that area.