Did you know dogs can sometimes break their teeth on the things they love to chew? We frequently see dogs with broken molar teeth on their routine wellness exams. Dogs are excellent at hiding signs of discomfort from this, and certainly don’t stop eating because of it. So it can be impossible to know that it has happened if you’re not looking for it. Any tooth can break from chewing things that are too hard, but the large upper 4th premolars are the most common victims, because they are the major chewing teeth. Below is a picture of a normal upper 4th premolar, then one that is broken and has exposed the pulp cavity (where the blood supply and nerves reside).
Once the pulp cavity is exposed there is opportunity for bacteria to move to the tip of the root and set up a tooth root infection. These are very painful, and the infection will not go away completely without removing the tooth. Tooth root infections must be identified with dental radiographs unless they are very advanced (read more here).
So what chews are safe? As a general rule if the surface of the chew cannot be indented with a fingernail, it is too hard for your dog’s teeth. We often see dogs breaking teeth on deer antlers and nylon bones. Cow hooves, animal bones, and ice cubes have also caused problems. Rawhide chews do not seem to cause an issue with breaking teeth, though they can pose a choking hazard for those dogs that like to inhale their chews. So give rawhides under supervision. So now that you know, try *not* to give your dog a bone, and maybe just stick with a rubber Kong toy instead!
