How many teeth !!

Mrs. Glittery Jingle Balls

Mrs. Glittery Jingle Balls

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We took one of our dogs ( Labrador coming up to 8) to the vets this morning for her to have a teeth clean and general check up. She has bad breath the past several weeks and they definitely had a lot of plaque on them. They have just phoned to say they have taken out 5 teeth! I have never had even an older dog need more than the odd one out when they go in for a clean.

I was shocked enough that the estimate for a tooth clean under anaesthetic was €260 plus extra for any teeth that needed extracting. I will find out the total cost when we pick her up later this afternoon, obviously money isn't the main issue but still a bit of a shocker!

I am interested to know if this is fairly common to have so many needing out in a relatively young dog, maybe I have just been luckier with other dogs over the years. She hasn't been struggling with eating or any hints that she might be in pain with bad teeth. My poor, dog 5 out, she must be feeling so uncomfortable, but I do feel guilty if she has been in pain with so many bad teeth for a long time. I think her teeth were last cleaned about 18 months ago, I shall have to check on that.
 
Teeth seem to be a bit of a minefield to me as far as vets are concerned, both with what needs doing and the charges. We’ve never had a lab require any teeth out, our first was pts/put down/euthanised/went to live in the other field (delete as appropriate) at 16 still with a full set of gnashes. Current lab is 9 and still has the lot. (Stop tempting fate, woman!) Our greyhound on the other hand had about 6 removed iirc 2 years ago, but she was about 10 at the time and we were told greys do tend to lean towards bad teeth.
Do hope she’s feeling better soon and makes the most of being tempted by tasty soft morsels of delight 😂
 
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JRT 13 yrs old no extractions. Only 1 very light clean when op to remove a little epilus in her mouth.
 
It's genetics as well. Full/good dentition is important to me and is something I actively look for #nerd and touch wood, have never had to clean a dog's teeth or needed any extractions.
There are still dogs my Mum can remember from the 70s and 80s who would have gone to the top/been great breeding animals, only 'they had a missing tooth'.
Missing or damaged teeth are penalised in the show ring and are mentioned in breed surveys (there's a 'map' of the teeth on the paperwork where the judge can make remarks)
Certain lines and breeds are prone to dental issues.
My old dog that came out of the womb biting things and continued to bite things until the day he died at the age of 14 (including eating the handle of a flexi lead with no ill effects), had excellent teeth. Some dogs (and I notice they have one dog in particular in common in their pedigree) I see in pictures have blunt and yellowing/brown teeth at a relatively young age.
 
I was distraught when Daisy had to have several teeth removed some years ago now (I was expecting two out). And felt very inadequate as an owner. I had fallen down the teeth cleaning dentastic route (since learnt better), and would give the occasional marrow bone (again have learnt better, too hard for her little teeth).

But the overriding cause was genetics according to my vet. Small breed dog, small mouth etc.
 
meggymoo said:
Teeth seem to be a bit of a minefield to me as far as vets are concerned, both with what needs doing and the charges. We’ve never had a lab require any teeth out, our first was pts/put down/euthanised/went to live in the other field (delete as appropriate) at 16 still with a full set of gnashes. Current lab is 9 and still has the lot. (Stop tempting fate, woman!) Our greyhound on the other hand had about 6 removed iirc 2 years ago, but she was about 10 at the time and we were told greys do tend to lean towards bad teeth.
Do hope she’s feeling better soon and makes the most of being tempted by tasty soft morsels of delight 😂
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We have never had a dog have to have teeth out. The vet congratulated us on our JRTs' teeth, because apparently they were unusually clean. We have had a variety of breeds but more Labs than anything else. I would have expected a phone call about extracting 5 teeth, rather than just cleaning them, tbh.
 
I think perhaps it might be genetic, probably not helped by the fact I have never brush any dogs teeth in nearly 7 decades of ownership, my bad. Up until the other one (Jess) became so ill recently they were both on identical diets and Jessie has lovely strong white gnashers. I am just remembering with Mr. Js help, we have had 7 labradors over the years and this is the first one that had any teeth removed, all apart from one lived to a healthy old age. Had collies need a couple out here and there over the years, terriers especially JRT's had the odd one or two out in old age.
 
Our PRT had quite a few teeth out in his early teens, he had very bad breath and this was what vet advised, it made very .little difference to his breath so have always wondered if it was necessary.
I remember thinking, how many!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I would have expected a phone call about extracting 5 teeth, rather than just cleaning them, tbh.
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Yes that is what our son is saying, would have expected a phone call at the least before removal of that many. He suggests we ask to see the rotten teeth they extracted, but then he is even more cynical than I am. but I seriously do not want to upset my vet as she was and has been 100 per cent with my other one who was very poorly, actually she still is really.
 
Mrs. Jingle said:
Yes that is what our son is saying, would have expected a phone call at the least before removal of that many. He suggests we ask to see the rotten teeth they extracted, but then he is even more cynical than I am. but I seriously do not want to upset my vet as she was and has been 100 per cent with my other one who was very poorly, actually she still is really.
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We didn't have a phone call. I trust my vet. If they needed my permission to extract extra a phone call would have just prolonged the anaesthetic (imo).
 
Amymay Again said:
We didn't have a phone call. I trust my vet. If they needed my permission to extract extra a phone call would have just prolonged the anaesthetic (imo).
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I guess it could depend partly on your relationship with your vet. We discussed it before hand and agreed that he would do whatever he deemed necessary when he was in there. He never took liberties and after 25 years he became more of a trusted friend. I was devastated when he retired. The large vet group I tried shortly after was a whole different kettle of fish where I just knew we weren’t going to build any sort of trust and I would want to know exactly the what’s, why’s and wherefores before anything was done.
 
meggymoo said:
I guess it could depend partly on your relationship with your vet. We discussed it before hand and agreed that he would do whatever he deemed necessary when he was in there. He never took liberties and after 25 years he became more of a trusted friend. I was devastated when he retired. The large vet group I tried shortly after was a whole different kettle of fish where I just knew we weren’t going to build any sort of trust and I would want to know exactly the what’s, why’s and wherefores before anything was done.
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You're absolutely right.
 
The vet saw Jem about 4 weeks ago, just for her yearly check up. We said at the time her breath had been getting more smelly and she checked all around her mouth and said they did need a good clean, which was fine. I said we will book her in but she insisted on giving me a typed out quote first, which was for the €260 and then verbally said, and of course more if we have to extract any teeth. Apart from being a bit shocked by the estimate purely for the clean I just said it was expected that if an extraction was needed it would be more.

Which was grand, but I just didnt expect five!. Apart from smelly breath she has shown absolutely no sign of discomfort, eating like any greedy labrador, no rubbing her mouth or head, very happy and playful etc. She does not get any sweet treats, just her Calibra mobility dry food and if we give treats it is usually half a runner bean or a bit of mushroom, something non fattening from the vegetable drawer.

Oh well, it is what it is, hopefully she won't be in too much discomfort and might actually feel better if she was masking 5 badly rotted teeth. 😟
 
I my experience it depends on the individual dog. For example we had one dog with great teeth and my brother in law had his litter mate who had appalling teeth and hideously smelly breath. Also our old dog had lots of teeth out over the years we had him and the other dogs fed an identical diet along side him had no problems at all.
 
5 is a relatively small amount of teeth to have extracted, in my experience, I regularly remove 18+, there have been times where I have needed to extract ALL teeth due to disease (these are usually staged to keep the anaesthetic time below 2 hours, and to aid recovery) Unfortunately, periodontal disease occurs in cats and dogs the same way as in humans - the longer you go without brushing, the worse it gets, and dogs can’t floss! Plus, I find many owners will wait until they perceive an issue with the teeth before they will book in for a clean up and assessment, (not saying you do this!) which means disease is usually very advanced. Honestly, it is recommended that dogs and cats have routing yearly ‘hygienist’ visits with x rays under an anaesthetic every year with daily tooth brushing at home - doing this makes it very unlikely teeth will need to be extracted due to periodontal disease (the main reason for tooth extraction in dogs and cats). There are also some genetic predispositions/diet causes of more progressive or early dental disease, but the advice to brush and have routine cleaning performed is still the same.

I’m sorry she had to have some teeth out! I hope she recovers very quickly!
If she won’t let you brush them, consider smearing enzymatic toothpaste over the teeth a few times a week to prevent the plaque sticking so well
 
I would have expected to have been informed at the pre op apptmt. / examination , that there was a need for at least some of them to be taken out, even if not all of them at that point, with 5 extractions required.
My former Vet, long time retired now, ( private practise ) used to say that dogs need to be able to crunch on stuff to help to clean their teeth eg. dried fish skin chews.
 
My dog did this kinda stuff when he was 12/13. Looking for the pic of the remains of the Flexi leash
ETA he did knock one incisor out later in life, which is why I never got his lifetime breed survey (he got the first one before the tooth came out but couldn't be arsed x-raying to prove it had been there).
He put his face through a metal gate trying to get after a cat.

IMG-20231023-WA0016.jpgIMG-20240312-WA0002~2.jpg
 
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Mrs. Jingle said:
I think perhaps it might be genetic, probably not helped by the fact I have never brush any dogs teeth in nearly 7 decades of ownership, my bad. Up until the other one (Jess) became so ill recently they were both on identical diets and Jessie has lovely strong white gnashers. I am just remembering with Mr. Js help, we have had 7 labradors over the years and this is the first one that had any teeth removed, all apart from one lived to a healthy old age. Had collies need a couple out here and there over the years, terriers especially JRT's had the odd one or two out in old age.
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I have never cleaned a dog's teeth in my life! But we don't feed them on rubbish, either.
 
Hope he recovers ok! What was the final bill out of interest…?
It’s definitely as much if not more genetics than diet. Root canal is a good option if the teeth are not too decayed (unusual this is even the case) but of course comes with a cost most owners would not be very happy with. We all know how vets are out there for the money! They do so well post extraction and don’t mind looking a bit gappy thankfully.
 
My late whippet had already had two dentals by the age of seven. Her teeth were awful.

My Lurcher is 11 and the vet says she has cracking teeth for her age.

Both dogs raised the same, on the same diet etc.

Genetics really do play a big part.

ETA - the whippet was pts for unrelated illness at 8, so cannot comment on her longer term gammy gob
 
Well I am a very happy customer and so is Jem. Apparently the five that came out were very small ones literally just hanging in there on a wish and a prayer, almost dropped out with very little assistance. No extra charge for extraction as they hardly had to be extracted. and no extra charge for giving her nails a very nice and neat tidy up, much easier to do a good job when she is anesthetised. Antibiotics for 7 days and pain killers for three.

We also took Jessie back for her 3 monthly bloods and check up, but bloods postponed for another month (I got the date wrong) Plus she had her first Librella (sp?) injection and lots of advice to get them both on a good supplement like YuMOVE , and advised cheaper to buy online than from the vets (isn' t she just lovely helping the OAPs stretch their pension! 😊) She also very kindly said she would not be charging for Jessie's consultation today as we have to bring her so often and I have to say we were in there ages getting all sorts of help for both dogs going forward.

Total bill for both dogs just €340!! Delighted and I didn't even need to get the dusty old credit card out of moth balls for that one.😅

Thanks very much for the tip @Redders I will get some of that toothpaste and smear it on if all else fails.
 
Ive got whippets, notorious for bad teeth but have never had an issue with previous dogs. They are raw fed and I'm sure this is why. I changed my current two to dry food for a couple of years when I was on the boat and Floyd started with tartar and the very beginnings of gum disease so back on raw food they went and a year later hes got white healthy teeth again. Same with Cooper he was given dry food from being a puppy to 2yr old and his teeth were starting to get tartar build up.

Maybe its just a coincidence, but I dont think so. They dont get a ton of bones really, they still got chicken wings when they were on the dry food. I think its the lack of carbs in the raw food maybe.
 
I'm Dun said:
Ive got whippets, notorious for bad teeth but have never had an issue with previous dogs. They are raw fed and I'm sure this is why. I changed my current two to dry food for a couple of years when I was on the boat and Floyd started with tartar and the very beginnings of gum disease so back on raw food they went and a year later hes got white healthy teeth again. Same with Cooper he was given dry food from being a puppy to 2yr old and his teeth were starting to get tartar build up.

Maybe its just a coincidence, but I dont think so. They dont get a ton of bones really, they still got chicken wings when they were on the dry food. I think its the lack of carbs in the raw food maybe.
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It might well be so I'm Dun, we did ask about diet but as vet pointed out Jessie (fingers crossed) has great teeth so far and up until she became ill and had to go on her very restricted insect diet they were both fed exactly the same diet. So I imagine there could also be some sort of genetic disposition involved too. Plus as confessed up thread I have never cleaned my dogs teeth in the past and perhaps I should seriously consider doing both of them regularly if they will let me. Or if not even smear it around their teeth as suggested by @Redders.
 
Because dental disease is present in every cat/dog, I’m posting a link which will hopefully be useful to people, I’ll enclose the vet link and the owner version so you can look at both, it just explains the hows and whys and treatments and prevention etc

They are American, but dental disease is dental disease

Vet Professional Version
www.msdvetmanual.com

Periodontal Disease in Small Animals - Digestive System - MSD Veterinary Manual

Learn about the veterinary topic of Periodontal Disease in Small Animals. Find specific details on this topic and related topics from the MSD Vet Manual.
www.msdvetmanual.com www.msdvetmanual.com

Owner Version
www.msdvetmanual.com

Dental Disorders of Dogs - Dog Owners - MSD Veterinary Manual

Learn about the veterinary topic of Dental Disorders of Dogs. Find specific details on this topic and related topics from the MSD Vet Manual.
www.msdvetmanual.com www.msdvetmanual.com
 
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