Pet care: Solving puppy tooth troubles and grooming gaffes
Q: I discovered that Rocky (a 5-month-old Jack Russell) is growing his adult canine teeth; however, his baby teeth are not coming out. Will they come out on their own later?
Dr. Nichol: Retained baby (deciduous) teeth are a common bump in the road of adolescence for small-breed dogs. At age 5 months, those little choppers may not fall out on their own. If they're allowed to stay beyond the toddler phase, the much bigger permanent teeth will arrive right next door. Food particles, hair and even plant material can get jammed in the gap between them. This can cause rather unpleasant breath, a faux pas during summer vacation.
Normally, the emergence of the adult teeth pushes the baby teeth out. Watchful waiting could result in painful inflammation of Rocky's gums and possibly tooth loss. According to board-certified veterinary dentist Dr. Kris Bannon, retained deciduous teeth should be extracted just as soon as the adult teeth make their earliest appearance. Ask your veterinarian to handle it ASAP. It's a simple procedure but it will require a short anesthetic.
Q: We have a Rhodesian Ridgeback, chow, shepherd mix. I made the error of shaving his coat. Now these red bloody abrasions keep appearing.
Dr. Nichol: As with any medical problem, attempting to diagnose a skin disorder without a physical exam would be a serious gamble. Having said that, I suspect clipper burns. Without frequent lubrication of the rapidly moving blades, there's a lot of heat-generating friction.
Clipper burns are seldom severe, but they can take a few weeks to heal. Cleaning the wounds twice daily with a moist washcloth is the safest way of avoiding infection. Your veterinarian can manage the initial treatment and show you how to continue at home. The doctor may prescribe a safe pain reliever and, if necessary, a topical antibiotic. Do-it-yourselfers beware: Gooey ointments like Neosporin should be avoided because they actually slow healing. Light bandaging may be helpful. Sorry, there is not a quick fix.
Going forward, those clipper blades will stay cooler and last longer if you spray them often during use with an aerosol like Kool Lube. Forget blowing on them; you'll only get dizzy.
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Dr. Jeff Nichol is a residency-trained veterinary behaviorist in Albuquerque. He provides consultations by Zoom group and individually/in-person. Sign up for his weekly blog or post questions (drjeffnichol.com) or mail to 4000 Montgomery NE, Albuquerque, NM, 87109.
