Dog with a broken tooth
Visible broken tooth or sudden chewing on one side — book a vet appointment; broken teeth with exposed pulp are painful and need treatment.
In the next 60 seconds
- Note the affected tooth.
- Soft food in the meantime.
- Phone the vet for assessment.
Recognise the signs
- Visible broken tooth, often with red/black pulp
- Chewing on one side
- Drooling, sometimes blood-tinged
- Pawing at mouth
- Bad breath
- Off food, weight loss in chronic cases
First aid steps
- Note the affected tooth.
- Soft food in the meantime.
- Phone the vet for assessment.
Do NOT
- Do not give hard chews, toys, or bones until checked.
- Do not give human painkillers.
When to phone the vet immediately
- Severe pain, refusing food, swollen face (root abscess)
Common causes
- Chewing hard items — antlers, hard nylon, real bones, stones, ice cubes
- Trauma
- Dental disease weakening teeth
What the vet will need to know
- When noticed
- How it happened if known
- Eating habits
- Photo of the tooth
Aftercare
- Treatment options: extraction (most common), root canal (specialist), or vital pulp therapy if very recent.
- Soft food and pain relief 1-2 weeks post-extraction.
- Full dental check whilst under anaesthetic.
Prevention
- Avoid antlers, hard nylon (Nylabone), ice cubes, stones.
- Choose softer chews (rubber Kongs, dental sticks).
- Daily tooth brushing.
- Annual dental checks.
Frequently asked questions
Is a broken tooth always painful?
Yes if the pulp is exposed (red/black centre). Even closed fractures can cause infection over time.
Can the tooth be saved?
Sometimes — root canal by a vet dentist preserves the tooth. Most are extracted in general practice.
Will my dog still eat normally after extraction?
Yes — dogs adapt remarkably well to missing teeth, even after multiple extractions.