Canine tooth extraction - Page 1

My girl's canine split in half the other night, top tooth... I fear the only option is extraction...I took her to my regular vet he said there is no infection, refused to give me antibiotics for her or anything for pain, insisting she was not in any pain..I have been softening her kibble into a mushy substance, part of the tooth fell out while she was eating anyway, it looks awful..I have spoken to a few vets, they wont really tell me anything unless I bring her in, I'm working with a vet that specializes in dentistry in PA to see if he can help. Has anyone had this problem before and had to extract their dogs canine tooth? I wish to get her schutzhund title, I understand that removal of the canine is a complex surgery because of the root and jaw, most of all I want her to be okay as she is not only my therapy dog but my best friend, will she be able to do bitework if it must be extracted?

I have had two dogs break canines over the years. Both of them lived with the broken tooth for a long time without any problems. Neither seemed to have any pain associated with the broken tooth. The first a Great Pyrenees did end up having to be removed as the tooth died, turned dark and did abcess. The removal was  a real job. The other still has her broken tooth, I just keep an eye on it, so far no problems.
It probably doesn't bother her nearly as bad as it does you.

I would prefer a root canal and then cap it with a gold/titanium. It holds up very well for bite work.
Always,
Cee

My 9 1/2 year old female broke a canine about 5 years ago, it was checked at the time and it has never given her any bother but you say it split, does that mean it split down the tooth to the gum because if that is what has happened then the chances are that she will get an tooth root infection and it will need to be removed.

Removal of an adult canine is quite a big job as they will have to cut the gum and do a flap in order to remove the tooth root.

Good Luck I hope your girl is ok.

Root canal with cap is probably the best bet if you're going to do Schutzhund with her, especially if you want to compete not just get a title.  My pup's grandma was a SchH III and had a capped canine... gave her quite a sparkling smile... Lol

Thank you all for the positive responses.  I wanted to get the root canal/crown, but then some bad things happened, and it really set me back, loss of job, but I just got a new job. 
I figure if it must be extracted, I can always get an implant for her later, I really didn't want her to lose her tooth and as BMartin said I need to find a good vet, since there is so much involved with removing the canine... I thought I had more time, I think it may be time to find a new vet he has misdiagnosed my one of my dogs 2 times, and told me about a month ago I still had plenty of time get the root canal.

Here are the 2 most recent pictures, a piece of it fell off while she was eating...unbelievable my vet would not give her anything for pain or antibiotics.   I can see that it is bothering her sometimes, but I agree I'm probably hurting more inside then she is.  She is being such a good girl about all this, still wants to do her job and understands that when I brush her teeth and apply ambesol gel it is to help her, the first time I did it she struggled, the second time she didn't move, even smiled at me...

I am so sorry to say this but I believe that the tooth should be removed ASAP because that split is allowing infection to take hold and I think that she MUST be in pain. If the infection enters the bone she will lose far more than a tooth she will also lose bone and then she will never do bite work.

That is what I feared the most..........  I have been going to this vet for 14 years and he refused to give her proper care....if something happens to her because of him......................All he had to do was give me the antibiotics and pain medication!  I know it's uncomfortable for her, and at times it does hurt her but I don't think it's severe.
...
I just checked her tooth again, as I have been every 2 hours or so because I'm paranoid, that piece that is left is coming lose and the gum is red, I can no longer wait for the Unniversity of Pennsylvania to give me an answer, I was up all night emailing vets even out of state to see if just one was willing to help, but I have to make an appt somewhere and I need to do it now.  So many bad things have happened within the past few months but this is by far the worst... she is my best and only friend, also my mother and I's therapy dog, even still with her tooth the way it is, she still wants to help us which involves her picking up items, I have been discouraging this... such a good girl..diehard.

GSDLover, I am so sorry I feel your pain such a good girl still wanting to do her job but to me that gum looks inflamed. There is no saving that tooth.