Puppy tooth problem - Page 1

My 11 week old puppy's bottom canine tooth has grown in and is sitting behind his upper canine tooth, I am thinking about having it removed now and possibly avoid him having a problem with his adult teeth.

At this stage he does have a slight overbite that I am not concerned about.

How would you deal with this?

I have kept him as a conformation prospect.

Give him a chance to continue teething.  Its amazing to see how fast their teeth can move at this age.  Some dogs dont move their teeth much, but others seem to be all over the place some days.

11 weeks is pretty early for a canine tooth to come in.  The canine teeth don't come in till they are nearly 6 months old.  Are you sure it isn't an incisor?

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com

Vickie

It is definately a canine, I am just concerned as it is hitting the gum behind his upper canine and also that if it is left untill it is replaced naturally he could end up with a wry mouth. His parents both have correct mouths.

I know that I am probably being over cautious but this puppy at this stage looks to be the best I have produced for his age. I know that so many things can go wrong and this is just the first hurdle and if neccessary I would have the tooth removed.

It is such a long road to produce a puppy and rear it to adulthood, we worry all the way from teeth, ears, hips & elbows and it doesn't stop there.

Thank you for any help

Joan

I am sorry I should have said that the tooth in question is not a permanent but a deciduous tooth, I would never think of removing a permanent tooth at this time.

I think I would leave it and let the adult k9 push it out as is normal.  But you might want to consult a veterinary dentist.

Vickie

www.PowerHausKennels.com

The typical teething schedule for GSDs, via Fred Lanting's The Total German Shepherd, based on all of the litters he has raised.

14 - 15 weeks: central incisors top

15- 17 weeks: central incisors bottom and second incisors top

16 - 18 weeks: 3rd incisors top and bottom, 1st and 4th pre-molars

5 months: canines, rest of premolars and molars

6 months: 2nd and 3rd premolars

6 - 7 months: remaining molars

Puppies mature on their own time schedules, but it would seem very unusual to see an adult canine tooth come in at 11 weeks. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, just that it would be unusual. I worried over my current pup's slow development, but his teeth came in fine, if not exactly on schedule.

If your puppy's new tooth isn't being deformed by the puppy tooth remaining, just let the new tooth push the old one out unless the gum becomes inflamed or the baby tooth refuses to fall out in a week or so. Then check with a veterinarian or ask for a referral to a veterinary dentist if you are still concerned.

What is it with the Old Murphy's Law, think of a problem it will surely happen.

My poor baby woke up yesterday with a very large swollen lip. My first thoughts were that he had a bite of some kind as he was helping me in the garden the previous day but when I felt his face it was very painfull, so off we go the the vet where he was sedated  to take a look and there was puss, so he was fully anethetized my poor boy had a tooth root abscess. The molar was fractured and had become infected and it had to be removed, so while he was under I asked the vet to remove the lower canine aswell. Something less to worry about.

Now I will be worried about posssible damage to his permanent molar.