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Pre-Surgical Information
Spaying or neutering your pet is a big step! There is a lot to consider
when we are planning your pet’s surgery. Here is some information to help
you make wise decisions.
Click here . . .
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Special LibraryOur Special Library
is a collection of informative articles on a variety of health topics.
Click here . . .
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Discharge InstructionsClick here for
information on how to care for your pet at home.
Click here . . .
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Broken Teeth
A very common finding, broken teeth
are a very painful and often untreated problem
for many dogs. Here's some help in understanding
what the problem is and what to do about it.
Lots of dogs have broken teeth. Often, the owners
had no idea the tooth was broken, and the dog seemed
fine. Sometimes the owners knew it was
broken, but it had been broken for years and didn't seem
to bother their dog any. We know that it it
was our tooth, it would be painful, but many dogs with
broken teeth do not seem to show any signs at all of
pain.
Science tells us that our dog's teeth and nervous system
are identical to ours. The teeth are put together
in the same way, with a layer of ultra-hard enamel over
a layer of softer dentin , all surrounding the pulp
chamber which is full of nerves. If you have ever
had the experience of having the dentist drill your
tooth before the anesthetic took full effect, you will
immediately appreciate the fact that teeth are a living bodypart with a very sensitive nerve supply.
So why don't many dogs show signs of pain?
The answer is complex.
Click here for an article on
Pets in Pain, which gives the long answer.
The short answer is that nature has taught animals to
hide their pain rather than show it. The signs of
pain that they do show are often subtle, and are often
not noticed by owners until after the source of pain is
removed.
If your pet has a broken tooth, the best thing to do is
have it removed. Your pet will feel better, and a
source of chronic infection will be removed. Root
Canal therapy is the only other option. |
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