My puppy is pawing at his mouth with a loose tooth. How can I help?

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. I do see a baby tooth there (the really pointy sharp tooth) and that is likely the tooth you are saying is really loose. Usually pets lose their baby teeth by the age of 6 months, so Vader is a bit of a late bloomer. I would recommend having your vet take a look at the tooth in person to see if it can be manipulated to come out. It may just come out on its own, but again, usually by this age the baby teeth are already gone. No need to worry too much however. If it does not come out on its own, then it can always be extracted at a later date. It is best to extract them to avoid overcrowding of the teeth and advanced dental disease. I would recommend brushing Vaders teeth often (3 times a week) to help remove foodstuffs that might get stuck there. Otherwise, plan on seeing your vet soon for further care if it doesn't happen to fall out soon. Best wishes with Vader and good luck with his stubborn baby tooth. Take care.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If the tooth is loose enough and your dog will let you, you can pull it out. If it won’t come out or he won’t left you, just leave it alone until tomorrow. Make an appointment with your vet tomorrow to make sure no root remains. If he wants to eat tonight, he can but I wouldn’t feed him in the morning in case the vet needs to sedate him for an oral exam. Water is ok to give. Do not give any medications either, your vet may prescribe something tomorrow. Good luck and kisses to Rocky!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If the baby tooth that was knocked out came out intact, meaning the entire root is present then he should be fine. If the tooth was broken then it could abscess or affect the adult tooth. The loose one will fall out on its own as that is the normal progression. If you are planning to neuter him you can do it sooner and have the vet X-ray the broken tooth and remove it while he’s under. I hope this helps!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! If they do fall off usually that will not affect eating that much. However, if they are loose that is usually indicative of an underlying dental issue so I would recommend that you have him evaluated by your veterinarian for further assessment and treatment. Good luck!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Poor Lucky! If he has a visibly loose tooth and he is rubbing that side of his face it is very possible that he is in pain. But he also could have a skin infection or is experiencing an allergic reaction and him attacking that side of his face has nothing to do with the tooth. I think it is best to have him examined by your Vet. Have the raw skin addressed, his mouth evaluated and set up a dental procedure. When he is under anesthesia they can evaluated his gums and all his teeth and remove all that are infected. I hope this helps and I wish Lucky the very best!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Not to worry, this is no big deal. I can’t be totally certain but the picture appears that the little front teeth (incisors) are adult teeth. But the canines are baby teeth. And by the looks of the little bulges, the adult canines will be erupting soon. Long story short, this was going to happen to this baby canine sooner or later anyway!. It does not hurt very much at all and will probably fall out completely (or he’ll swallow it) in the next day or so. There is no way you’d be able to knock out an adult canine with a rope toy. So carry on with your tug-o-war and don’t worry if a baby tooth here and there are casualties! Best wishes to you and Xavier!

I wouldn't recommend pulling it yourself, because so many things can go wrong with this scenario and we would be legally liable for any consequences that could ensue. Although there is a low risk of complications if it is truly a baby tooth. Pet formulated oral rinse from your local pet store is the only thing that should be used to clean a tooth root hole. Any brand will do. Instead, monitor it to see if it comes out on its own. You don't have to stop any of her playtime, continue things as normal and if it has not fallen out within 1 week, its best to take her to your vet to see if it can safely be pulled out. However, there is a good chance that it will fall out on its own. Best wishes with your pet Gracie moving forward. Take care.