Download Treating Abscessed Teeth in a Dog

Treating Abscessed Teeth in a Dog
A tooth abscess is a pus pocket which can form around diseased tooth roots. The pus may build
up and produce a large swelling. The most common tooth to abscess is the fourth upper
premolar, or carnassial tooth. Infection of this large multi-rooted tooth of the upper jaw may
lead to a large pus pocket in the facial tissues, which produces a swelling under the eye. The next
most commonly affected tooth is the canine tooth, or fang. This long tooth is frequently affected
by abscessation, and will sometimes produce a pus drainage tract into the nose. This results in
sneezing, and sometimes a bloody or pus discharge will come from the nostril on that same side
of the face. High fevers may occur.
Keeping your pet’s teeth clean will reduce the chances of abscess formation. Advanced
periodontal disease allows the tooth attachments to weaken around the roots, which
encourages tooth root infection. Infection may also move from a tooth abscess into the
bloodstream and shower other organs with bacteria, so good preventive dental health care is
essential to help prevent tooth abscesses and other health problems.
Treatment for abscesses involves surgery to extract the infected tooth, and to flush out the pus
pocket. Cultures of pocket swabs are taken to grow and isolate the bacteria. This will allow the
clinician to select the best possible antibiotic therapy when antibiotic sensitivity tests are also
run. Pain killers are also prescribed to keep the pet comfortable after the extraction/flush, so that
the dog may continue to eat while healing takes place.
Because the most effective treatment for abscessation requires surgery, the emphasis should be
on preventive dental care. Early signs of tooth infection include salivation, eating on one side of
the mouth only, or sometimes dropping food out of the mouth; also preference for soft food
over kibbles, and rubbing the face. Have your dog seen by your veterinarian immediately, even
in between regular wellness visits, if you suspect an abscess is developing since these infections
may blow up quite quickly, and are painful for the dog.
With proper and prompt treatment, the prognosis for these abscesses is good. If left unattended,
toxins from the infection may make the pet very ill, so it does not pay to wait!
"Reprinted with permission from the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association ”
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