Severe Broken Teeth

Question
Hello,
I recently adopted a male German Shepherd, age six, named 'Bastian. When 'Bastian was a puppy, he was given a hard plastic, "nubby" ball/toy (later recalled) which did severe damage to his teeth before it was discovered that the toy was hazardous to him. Now, nearly all of his front teeth are badly broken, and he is in  significant pain.  He often has trouble chewing and chokes on his food.Is there anything you can suggest that may help him? I give him baby aspirin 2X a day as recommended by our vet; it helps a little, but he's still hurting. Any information/advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much for sharing your time to offer this valuable resource.
Sorry

Answer

Hi Sorry,

Depending on what you can afford, there may be some options for your vet to help your dog. If only the dentin is exposed and not the dental pulp, then a fluoride or bonding sealant, the material dentists apply to children's molars at age six and eight that prevents cavities, can be applied to your dog's teeth. This reduces sensitivity and prevents bacterial invasion of the pulp cavity. Root canal therapy and crown restoration are all possible for dogs. If however your dog's teeth are severely damaged, his teeth may need to be extracted.

Living in constant pain should not be an option for your dog. Even extractions would be an improvement to living in pain. Talk to your vet about the options that are best for your dog, and take action. It sounds like your dog has been living in pain for far too long.

You didn't say what you're feeding your dog, that he's having trouble eating. Changing his food to something he can better manage, like a canned food is something else to consider. If you're currently feeding your dog a dry food, try mixing in some warm water and giving the food some time to soften up before giving it to your dog.

If you are having trouble afford veterinary care, first talk to your regular vet. Ask your veterinarian if he or she will let you work out a payment plan. Many veterinarians are willing to work out a weekly or monthly payment plan so that you do not have to pay the entire cost of veterinary care up front. Another option is to contact your local shelter or Humane Society. Some shelters operate or know of local subsidized veterinary clinics or veterinary assistance programs. If you happen to live within driving distance to veterinary school, check with them to see if they offer discount services to the public. There are two special credit cards to apply for which help with medical bills (including veterinary bills) read about them here:

http://www.carecredit.com
http://www.healthcard.citicards.com

Best of luck,

Patti