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My adopted dog has a broken tooth. Do I need to see a vet urgently?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Pekingese | Male | neutered | 2 years and 1 month old | 13 lbs

I recently adopted a dog from the shelter and noticed he has a broken tooth. Should I be concerned?

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1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Eryn Taormina, DVM

Veterinarian

Published on January 8th, 2019

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear about Mars' troubles. It's a bit hard to see from the pictures but the tooth definitely looks a little bit discolored. And it almost looks like what we call a "slab fracture" where a flat, wide piece of the tooth breaks off. Dogs can do this by biting onto something hard, like a bone. This can expose the inside of the tooth to infection, and also be very uncomfortable. I would definitely have a veterinarian take a look at the tooth, to see if it should be extracted under anesthesia as this is the best way to treat a tooth like this. By removing the tooth, one removes the source, or potential source, of pain and discomfort. The veterinarian can also clean the rest of the teeth too, which would be great for Mars' overall health. Best of luck!

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