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Does your furry pal still have any baby teeth sticking around? You need to check on it as it may lead to a dental problem known as retained puppy teeth or retained baby teeth.
For dogs, the deciduous or baby teeth generally come out when they are two months old. Adult teeth replace them within six months. If your dog still has baby teeth, these can push its adult teeth to misalign.
It leads to weakened teeth, chewing issues, and other dental problems. To save your precious dog from all these troubles, you need to identify issues early. Immediate dental care works best. Read on to know more.
Retained Puppy Teeth How Long To Wait?
It is essential to respond to retained puppy teeth on time. This avoids dental complications. It is best to remove them sooner than delaying it.
Make sure to keep checking your dog’s teeth regularly for its first six to seven months. Regularly visit your veterinarian to monitor your dog’s teeth.
Your veterinarian examines your dog’s mouth and records the presence of retained puppy teeth. They can also take an X-ray to verify which of them are deciduous and which are permanent.
If your dog has retained puppy teeth, it is best to remove them when you take your dog to spay or neuter. It is usually done after six or seven months. By this time, your dogs adult teeth will have emerged.
Most dog owners prefer this time to extract retained puppy teeth. This is because the extraction of a dog’s teeth requires general anaesthesia. It is recommended to avoid anaesthesia for your dog at a young age.
Does Your Dog Still Have Baby Teeth? Here’s What To Do
Retained baby teeth can occur to any dog. Although it often occurs in smaller breed dogs. These include Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Pomeranian, and Maltese. The canine and incisors of dogs are mostly affected by retained baby teeth.
If your dog still has baby teeth, it is essential to visit a veterinarian, and ideally, as soon as possible. You should check whether its baby teeth show any signs of naturally falling out. Your veterinarian will run some checks to spot the retained baby teeth.
It is most likely that your veterinarian will recommend extracting your doggo’s baby teeth. Any retained or fractured teeth can also be surgically removed.
It is crucial to follow through with this extraction according to your veterinarian’s advice. This will protect your dog from any adverse dental health issues.
The procedure of extracting the baby teeth of a dog is delicate and can be painful. The veterinarian gives your dog anaesthesia to avoid this pain. Once your veterinarian takes the utmost care in extracting the whole baby tooth. There will be no damage to its adult teeth.
One oral process called a gingival flap is conducted. It separates your dog’s gums from the teeth and folds it back. A few dental x-rays may also be needed to check whether the roots of the baby teeth have been completely removed.
Retained Puppy Teeth Removal Cost
The cost of extracting retained puppy teeth depends on a few factors. Primarily it varies according to the number of baby teeth that need to be removed.
It also depends on how complicated this surgery can be. Generally, the cost of retained puppy teeth removal is around $200 – $ 500. However, if you have pet insurance, this procedure will cost much less.
Another factor that influences the cost is the timing of the treatment. If you opt for removal before much damage or root resorption occurs, the price will be lower.
You also have to consider the additional costs. It includes the price of treating adjacent teeth if they are damaged. The dental x-rays and anaesthesia costs can also add up. If the veterinarian prescribes any relief medicines, they usually cost about $20 to $32.
It is best to discuss your options with your veterinarian. Make sure to pick one that is best for your furry buddy while being closer to your budget.
Pulling Puppy Teeth At Home – What Should You Know?
Have you wondered if it is possible to extract puppy teeth at home? The answer is a big no. You should never try to do this at home.
Within your dog’s first six months, its teeth will most likely fall out independently. In case they do not, you must contact a veterinarian. You can then discuss if your canine buddy’s baby teeth must be removed.
Never try to pull or perform the extraction process by yourself at home. It will only harm and leave a negative impact on your beloved dog. It can affect them not only physically but also mentally.
You will not be relieving your dog of any pain by pulling its teeth by yourself. It can damage its tooth root and cause infections. The immense pain can scar them forever.
Only a veterinarian can extract a puppy tooth. They do so by giving your dog general anaesthesia. Due to this, your furry friend will not feel any pain. You cannot achieve this at home.
After all, you wouldn’t want anyone pulling out your teeth at home, would you? It is appropriate for a qualified dentist to do this job. The same applies to your dog as well. Only a qualified veterinarian can extract your dog’s baby teeth.
Wrap Up
If you find that your dog still has its baby teeth after six months, please contact your veterinarian. If left untreated, it can cause many serious dental problems to your precious pal.
It is best to treat retained puppy teeth as soon as possible. Make sure to check for it regularly. You should run dental tests when you take your dog for spaying or neutering. Your veterinarian will extract retained puppy teeth with utmost care.
With proper checkups and early detection, retained puppy teeth will no longer cause any trouble to your canine buddy!