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My dog has a loose baby tooth next to an adult tooth. Can I pull it?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Yorkshire Terrier | Female | unspayed | 5 years and 3 months old | 5 lbs

My yorkie has a loose deciduous baby tooth next to her permanent adult tooth. This would be a canine tooth that came loose today during playtime. Is it ok to pull the tooth and put pressure on the hole and apply some type of aniseptic? Thank you.

2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Destini R. Holloway, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on November 29th, 2018

I wouldn't recommend pulling it yourself, because so many things can go wrong with this scenario and we would be legally liable for any consequences that could ensue. Although there is a low risk of complications if it is truly a baby tooth. Pet formulated oral rinse from your local pet store is the only thing that should be used to clean a tooth root hole. Any brand will do. Instead, monitor it to see if it comes out on its own. You don't have to stop any of her playtime, continue things as normal and if it has not fallen out within 1 week, its best to take her to your vet to see if it can safely be pulled out. However, there is a good chance that it will fall out on its own. Best wishes with your pet Gracie moving forward. Take care.

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    Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

    Licensed Veterinary Technician

    Published on January 14th, 2020

    That looks like it could be a retained deciduous (baby) tooth. It should have fallen out on its own at around 6 months of age. Ideally, your veterinarian should extract it to make sure the entire tooth comes out. If any root is left behind, it could lead to an infection.

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