Teeth pulling? When? Do we have to?

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CHloe is about 8 months now and hasnt lost any of her puppy teeth but a lot of the adult ones have come in. She looks like a shark with a double row of teeth on top and bottom. I called the vet and the receptionist said as long as they arent hurting her they dont need to be pulled. NOw she is not a vet so I dont know how qualified her opinon is. Is that true? Because I am really scared to get her teeth pulled. Well she definetly doesnt act like they ever bother her. I still keep hoping she will lose them but I am not sure at what age that should defintly happen by. How long can I wait before getting them pulled? And do I have to get them pulled? Whats the recovery like on getting that done?

[StewiesMom]

Is she spayed? Are you planning to have her spayed?

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Originally Posted by StewiesMom

Is she spayed? Are you planning to have her spayed?

She isnt and I know I will eventually but I am scared to death and avoiding it. My vet is really nice and I have been going ther for years, but they are literally a "country vet"(yes,they even see farm animals) and I dont think they get a lot of teeny tiny fragil dogs like Chloe. So I think I am going to find a different vet to get her fixed at. She is only 2 lbs so I am just scared to death. I am really trying to avoid even thinking about it. BUt if her teeth need to be pulled immediatly then I will get it done all at the same time and soon, if I can wait on the teeth I will hold off on getting her spayed. Basically I am trying to see how long I can avoid both .

[StewiesMom]

My vet said the same thing... that it can be put off as long as you want. The only thing is that it could mess up her bite and harm her later on. If I were in your position, I would get them both done when you feel comfortable.

Good luck. I know how nerve wracking it can be

[Snow Yorkies]

If you are planning on spaying her they may do her teeth pulling then. So will only have to be under once. My vet and I watch the teeth and try to wait until they are a year, but if any tarter starts building up that is when you might want to consider doing it earlier, as it can effect her adult teeth. Give her a good nylabone(sp?) or something of that nature for her to chew on and this could help the milk teeth to drop out on their own. If she is not in pain and is eating well and no tarter is building up, see if nature will take it course, but don't let it go on for too long.

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

I am not having Ava or Chai spayed on the advice of my new vet and zi am not having their teeth pulled or Hefner or Buddha's. There are ways to get the teeth to fal out on their own and they usually do. Are hers loose? Give her a hard bone or a bully stick to chew on and play tug-o-war with her.

It is important when they hav two rows of teeth to brush her teeth daily to avoid gingivitus because the foof gets stuck in between them.

[Marie]

Gucci still has her 4 baby canine and 1 baby front top tooth and all her adult teeth already had came out. My vet told me that it they dont fall on their own when is time to do a cleaning she can pull them out or when she gets spay. I think you can wait until you get Chloe spay but always make sure to brush her teeth daily and give her bones to chew on and play tug of war. Good luck.

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What potential problems besides gingivitis could she have down the road if I dont have them pulled and they dont fall out?

[SoCalyorkiLvr]

There is potential for the baby teeth to cause the adult teeth to move out of alignment and cause problems with the bite which can be both functional and esthetic. I was also told that the soft palate can be punctured causing potential for infection but I think this is rare.

[Fran42478]

My vet didnt want to pull any of Sammi's double canines at her time of spaying (7 months) becuase he was confident they would fall out on there own...And they did...She lost her last tooth at 16 months old...

[chanin111]

I've been at the vet 2x this week. Macie's teeth were really bothering her and I didn't know which ones. She lost all her front teeth top and bottom on her own. She kept waking me up to go out and chewed on grass, wasn't eating, and being really needy. Anyway, took her in and two of her back mollars were trying to come out. They were barely hanging on. They should have taken one of her canines too but missed it so had to go back. It was just wobbling in there and she was a smackin'. I just can't pull teeth--freaks me out. (I used to give IV's to my previous fur baby but I can't do this!?) They didn't even have to tug. She didn't even wimper and she IS a drama queen. My vet didn't even charge me. So, if they are loose I would take her in.

[HeatherW]

My vet told me if he didn't pull them then I needed to make sure I kept her teeth clean....so for now i would brush them and make sure all food is out of the spaces between her teeth....play tug of war...get hard bones...etc...Gracie had 2 that didn't fall out and it cost me an extra $15 per tooth to have them pulled :O....but if you do it definitly do it when she gets spayed....so she only has to be under once....Good Luck