Your dog may need a tooth extraction to relive pain and allow their mouth to heal from damage caused by a dead tooth. In this post, our Glendale vets share facts about tooth extractions in dogs so owners will know what to expect from the procedure.
Dog Tooth Extractions
If your dog needs one or more teeth surgically removed (extracted) by a veterinarian, you're likely wondering how this procedure is performed and about its potential implications.
Extractions can extend as deep as the roots, or the veterinarian may stop at removing the dental crown (the part of the tooth that's visible above the gums).
Why a Tooth Extraction is Necessary
Veterinarians will typically recommend removing a dog's tooth or teeth if one or multiple teeth are damaged beyond repair. This will help prevent infection from developing, and pain from setting in due to the dead tooth. Dogs often require tooth extractions so they can live pain-free and with ideal oral health.
Your Dog's Tooth Extraction Procedure
Roots hold each of your dog's teeth in his or her mouth. An individual tooth may be held in place by as many as three roots. All roots must be removed to correctly and fully extract a tooth.
During his or her dental surgery, your dog will be under the effects of anesthesia. Our veterinarians practice stringent surgical protocols while operating on our patients.
Your vet may need to take an X-ray or order a CT scan to find out how healthy the roots of your dog's teeth are. Large teeth - those with multiple roots - are split using a high-speed dental drill, so every gragment of the tooth will only have one root attached to it.
Smaller teeth that may be held in place by a single root can be removed in their entirety without your vet taking this extra step.
Factors That Determine the Cost of a Dog's Tooth Extraction
The cost of tooth extraction surgeries for dogs can vary depending on your location and other factors, including the price of each of the following:
- Cleaning and X-rays
- Anesthesia
- Blood work as required
- IV fluids
- Hospitalization for the day
- Time spent in surgery
- The price of the surgery itself
- Surgical equipment and other items such as sutures
- Employee time spent monitoring your pet
- The location of the tooth being extracted (e.g. a small tooth in the front of the mouth vs. a large back tooth that requires bone graft material to be placed in the surgical site)
Potential Complications Resulting From Dog Tooth Extraction
Complications due to veterinary tooth extractions are rare. Complications that do happen typically belong to a few categories: dental cavities that have not healed fully, remnants of teeth that have been removed, and damage to the jaw bone are all potential areas of complications that may occur during a dog tooth extraction.
What to Expect After Your Dog's Tooth Extraction
Recovery following a tooth extraction procedure should be relatively quick, and you should be able to take your pet home on the same day as the procedure. While there may be traces of blood in their saliva, no significant bleeding should occur. If there is, contact your vet immediately.
Our Glendale vets recommend avoiding feeding your dog hard foods for a while until the area heals. If your dog eats primarily hard kibble, it can be softened in water before you serve it to them. For similar reasons, we also recommend that you avoid playing tug-of-war until your dog has fully recovered.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding people or pets. Always follow your doctor's advice regarding asthma or other allergy symptoms.